title: Von Neumann's quintessential message: genotype + ribotype = phenotype.
abstract: In this short article, we argue that von Neumann's quintessential message with respect to self-replicating automata is genotype + ribotype = phenotype. Self-replication occurs in analogy to nature: The description (genotype) written on the input tape is translated via a ribosome (ribotype) so as to create the offspring universal constructor (phenotype).
authors.affiliation: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Logic Systems Laboratory IN-Ecublens Lausanne CH-1015 CH. Daniel.Mange@di.epfl.ch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sipper
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mange
mesh_terms: D005838:Genotype; D008954:Models, Biological; D010641:Phenotype; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic