Introduction Background and Biological Inspiration

Abstract

The fundamental unit of information in living systems is the gene. In general, a gene is defined as a portion of a chromosome that determines or affects a single character or phenotype (visible property), for example, eye colour. It comprises a segment of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), commonly packaged into structures called chromosomes. This genetic information is capable of producing a functional biological product which is most often a protein.