Macroscopic Molecular Computation with Gene Networks

Abstract

In recent years scientists have been looking for new paradigms for constructing computational devices. These include quantum computation, DNA computation, neural networks, neuromorphic engineering and other analog VLSI devices. Since the 60’s genetic regulatory systems are thought of as “circuits” or “networks” of interacting components. The genetic material is the “program” that guides protein production in a cell. Protein levels determine the evolution of the network at subsequent times, and thus serve as its “memory”. This analogy between computing and the process of gene expression was pointed out in various papers. Bray suggests that protein based circuits are the device by which unicellular organisms react to their environment, instead of a nervous system. However, until recently this was only a useful metaphor for describing gene networks. Recent papers describe the successful fabrication of synthetic networks, i.e. programming of a gene network. Furthermore, it was shown both theoretically and experimentally that chemical reactions can be used to implement Boolean logic and neural networks.