Computing With Bio-Molecules Theory and Experiments

Molecular computing (especially DNA computing) means using bio-molecules as a support for computations and devising computers. This is in contrast to the current opposite direction of research, the classic one, where computers are used in studying molecules (especially DNA), a field now commonly termed the science of bioinformatics. Using DNA as a 'chip' or support for computation is not a new idea, and has been speculated upon since the 1950's. Adleman's 1994 report on solving the Hamiltonian Path Problem in a graph, using only biochemical laboratory techniques, was the revolutionary turning point in making possible the construction of large computers of huge parallelism, which are able to incorporate the features of matching, splicing (cross-over), insertion, deletions, etc., of data structures (strings and languages) - all features typical of the living DNA molecule. DNA computing is a domain of clear interdisciplinary work, and is definitely a field in rising expansion. Still, a lot of work has to be done, both from a mathematical and a biochemical point of view. This book brings together over 20 international contributions on the theoretical and experimental works of scientists in search of the bio-computer. The style of the contributions are that of research papers and surveys. Being one of the first volumes of its type in this new exciting field, this book will be of equal interest to computer scientists, mathematicians, and biochemists alike.Paun, Gheorghe is the author of 'Computing With Bio-Molecules Theory and Experiments' with ISBN 9789814021050 and ISBN 9814021059.