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Molecular computation and construction
Special Events| Speaker: | Erik Winfree, Caltech |
| Location: | 693 Kerr |
| Start time: | Mon, Mar 14 2005, 3:10PM |
Description
Some of the simplest Turing-universal models of computation appear as
natural generalizations of biochemical processes that occur in cells.
Finite chemical reaction networks are related to Register Machines;
enzyme reactions acting on polymers can directly simulate Turing
Machines; self-assembly can simulate cellular automata and more. Our
increasing ability to design complex molecules and systems makes these
models of computation increasingly of interest for nanotechnology and
biological engineering, as well as for fundamental understanding of
biological processes. This talk will focus particularly on molecular
self-assembly and questions related to the complexity of morphogenesis
problems in this framework.
[Note companion talk "Algorithmic self-assembly of DNA" at 11am March 15 in the Condensed Matter/Biophysics seminar.
Room 525 Phy/Geo. See http://www.physics.ucdavis.edu/cllqsmnrs.html#cm ]