Now, if one considers the becoming of a DNA molecule in a cell it is possible to describe the various functions derived from its presence as calculable in an algorithmic way. Many routines in the process are recursive. It is a generative process which permits generation of both a DNA molecule and of the machine and data necessary to interpret it. A living organism is in this context the algorithmic actualisation of a program, the initiation of which has been obtained through a selective process, keeping only actualisations which are stable in time. Bearing this in mind we should be very careful and modest when trying to predict the future of living organisms, which corresponds to their truly creative power.
Genome analysis brings a major insight in the chemical definition of nucleic acids and proteins.
A further insight comes from the chemical definition of the small molecules which are the building blocks of organisms, through the generation of intermediary metabolism. And, because life requires also in its definition the processes of metabolism and compartmentalisation, it is important to relate intermediary metabolism to genomes structure, function and evolution. This requires elaboration of systems for constructing actual metabolic pathways and when possible dynamic modelling of metabolism, and to correlate pathways to genes and gene expression. In fact, most of the corresponding work cannot be of much use because the data on which it rests have been collected from extremely heterogeneous sources, and most often obtained by in vitro studies. It is therefore needed first to collect, organise and actualise the existing data.