Biological computation
In the most literal interpretation of the term, biological computation refers to computation of a biological nature — in particular, biological systems that imbed mathematical operations — hence, its application to the emerging subdiscipline of biology that explores and exploits the use of biological systems to perform mathematical/computational operations and achieve solutions to mathematical/computational problems — for example, computing with DNA molecules[1] — and that studies computational processes in biological and living systems.[2][3][4]
Embedded controllers
One possible application of biological computation is the administration of chemotherapy. The underlying idea is that bacteria are arranged to invade a tumor to selectively produce a drug that kills the tumor. Within the injected bacteria is an embedded controller that executes the logical computation "If X is present, produce Y" or possibly, "If the rate of change of X is within certain bounds, produce Y", thereby activating the bacteria.[5]
References
- ↑ Kari L, Landweber LF. (2000). "Computing with DNA". Methods in Molecular Biology: Bioinformatics methods and protocols 132: pp. 413-430.
- ↑ Bray D. (2009). Wetware: A Computer in Every Living Cell. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300141733. Google Books preview.
- ↑ Landweber LF, Kari L. (1999). "The evolution of cellular computing: nature’s solution to a computational problem". Biosystems 52: pp. 3-13.
- ↑ Simeonov PL (2010). "Integral biomathics: A post-Newtonian view into the logos of bios". Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology: pp. 85-121. DOI:10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2010.01.005. Research Blogging. Proof of article as published online.
- ↑ JC Anderson, EJ Clarke, AP Arkin, CA Voigt (2005). "Environmentally controlled invasion of cancer cells by engineered bacteria". Journal of Molecular Biology,: pp. 619 ff. DOI:10.1016/j.jmb.2005.10.076. Research Blogging.