How can one deduce the amount of bits of information that make up an organism?

Question

For example: http://www.zyvex.com/nanotech/selfRepNASA.html

". . .such as bacteria, have a complexity of about 10 million bits"

My question is strange, I don't know how else I could put it at the moment. How does one measure complexity in bits, or convert complexity to bits?

Answer 1

Humans don't have "bits" like data in a computer but they do have around a trillion cells, each containing a genetic code with combinations in the billions. So, if you call cellular combination possibilities "bits" the numberwould be around 6 billion trillion

Answer 2

Hi. The best way to understand is to study DNA. This amazing string of molecules has the ability to make proteins which form organisms. A human has over 3 billion bits.