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

Katherine Elizabeth Dunn; Martin Albrecht Trefzer; Steven David Johnson; Andrew Martin Tyrrell

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

Katherine Elizabeth Dunn, Martin Albrecht Trefzer, Steven David Johnson, Andrew Martin Tyrrell

Electronic Engineering

Research output: Working paper › Preprint

Abstract

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. 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.

Original language	English
Publisher	bioRxiv, at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Publication status	Published - 28 Mar 2018

Access to Document

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/03/28/290775Licence: Other

Cite this

@techreport{25c95dafdcc848b99f2c31a0e40b0a10,

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

abstract = "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. 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.",

author = "Dunn, {Katherine Elizabeth} and Trefzer, {Martin Albrecht} and Johnson, {Steven David} and Tyrrell, {Andrew Martin}",

year = "2018",

month = mar,

day = "28",

language = "English",

publisher = "bioRxiv, at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory",

type = "WorkingPaper",

institution = "bioRxiv, at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory",

}

TY - UNPB

T1 - Towards a bioelectronic computer: A theoretical study of a multi-layer biomolecular computing system that can process electronic inputs

AU - Dunn, Katherine Elizabeth

AU - Trefzer, Martin Albrecht

AU - Johnson, Steven David

AU - Tyrrell, Andrew Martin

PY - 2018/3/28

Y1 - 2018/3/28

N2 - 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. 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.

AB - 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. 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.

M3 - Preprint

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

PB - bioRxiv, at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

ER -