Towards a Bioelectronic Computer: A Theoretical Study of a Multi-Layer Biomolecular Computing System That Can Process Electronic Inputs

DNA molecular machines have great potential for use in computing systems. Since Adleman originally introduced the concept of DNA computing through his use of DNA strands to solve a Hamiltonian path problem, a range of DNA-based computing elements have been developed, including logic gates, neural networks, finite state machines (FSMs) and non-deterministic universal Turing machines. DNA molecular machines can be controlled using electrical signals and the state of DNA nanodevices can be measured using electrochemical means. However, to the best of our knowledge there has as yet been no demonstration of a fully integrated biomolecular computing system that has multiple levels of information processing capacity, can accept electronic inputs and is capable of independent operation. Here we address the question of how such a system could work. We present simulation results showing that such an integrated hybrid system could convert electrical impulses into biomolecular signals, perform logical operations and take a decision, storing its history. We also illustrate theoretically how the system might be able to control an autonomous robot navigating through a maze. Our results suggest that a system of the proposed type is technically possible but for practical applications significant advances would be required to increase its speed.

On the Concepts of Parallelism in Biomolecular Computing

In this paper we consider DNA and membrane computing, both as theoretical models and as problem solving devices. The basic motivation behind these models of natural computing is using parallelism to make hard problems tractable. In this paper we analyze the concept of parallelism. We will show that parallelism has very different meanings in these models.We introduce the terms ’or-parallelism’ and ’and-parallelism’ for these two basic types of parallelism.

Towards a bioelectronic computer: A theoretical study of a multi-layer biomolecular computing system that can process electronic inputs

ABSTRACTDNA molecular machines have great potential for use in computing systems. Since Adleman originally introduced the concept of DNA computing through his use of DNA strands to solve a Hamiltonian path problem, a range of DNA-based computing elements have been developed, including logic gates, neural networks, finite state machines (FSMs) and non-deterministic universal Turing machines. It has also been established that DNA molecular machines can be controlled using electrical signals and that the state of DNA nanodevices can be measured using an electrochemical readout. However, to the best of our knowledge there has as yet been no demonstration of a fully integrated biomolecular computing system that has multiple levels of information processing capacity, can accept electronic inputs and is capable of independent operation. In this paper we address the question of how such a system could work. We present simulation results showing that such an integrated hybrid system could convert electrical impulses into biomolecular signals, perform logical operations and take a decision, storing its history. We also illustrate theoretically how such a system could potentially be used to perform a task such as controlling an autonomous robot navigating through a maze.

DNA Computing Using Carbon Nanotube-DNA Hybrid Nanostructure

DNA computing is a branch of biomolecular computing using the physical and chemical properties of deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA. It is a fast-developing interdisciplinary research area consisting of nano-biotechnology, computer science and biochemistry. DNA computing is widely used now-a-days for logic design, biomarker, cryptography, disease detection etc. In recent years, carbon nanotube or CNT research has reached a new peak with its various applications including nano-biocomputing. DNA plays a pivotal role in biology and CNT is considered as a wonder material of this century in nanoscience. This chapter combines these two promising research areas including CNT and DNA to form CNT-DNA based nanostructured system and its applications in diverse fields like electronics, biomedical engineering, drug delivery, gene therapy, biosensor technology etc. CNT-DNA hybrid and its various suitable combinations open up a new dimension called CNT-DNA computing.

Biomolecular Computing Realized in Parallel Flow Systems: Enzyme-Based Double Feynman Logic Gate

An enzyme system organized in a flow device with three parallel channels was used to mimic a reversible Double Feynman Gate (DFG) with three input and three output signals. Reversible conversion of NAD+ and NADH cofactors was used to perform XOR logic operations, while biocatalytic oxidation of NADH resulted in Identity operation working in parallel. The first biomolecular realization of a DFG gate is promising for integrating into complex biomolecular networks operating in future unconventional biocomputing systems, as well as for novel biosensor applications.