DNA computing graduate course: invited lectures and presentations

Automation of Operations for Molecular Computing

Abstract:
Part I: Primitive biological operations for DNA computing and solution transport fundamentals.

The primitive biological operations described by Kari [1] and Adleman [2] are reviewed with an eye to the potential for automation. Certain functions such as denaturing, annealing, and amplification are addressed by the integration of existing devices common to chemical analysis. The need to combine these and other existing technologies for general purpose DNA computing is identified. A significant introduction to the fundamentals of solution transport is presented. Exciting avenues for miniaturization are briefly described.
[1] L. Kari, DNA Computing: Arrival of Biological Mathematics, The Mathematical Intelligencer, 19(2), 1997.
[2] L. Adleman, On Constructing a Molecular Computer, ftp://usc.edu/pub/csinfo/papers/adleman

Part II: Demonstration

A commercially available liquid sample handling and preparation system is demonstrated as a possible first building block for a general purpose or specialized molecular computer. This platform serves as a starting reference for discussions of more sophisticated applications and techniques.

Part III: Existing technologies applicable to molecular computing and future directions.

Other commercially available technologies are described which might be very suitable building blocks for a primitive DNA computer. Relatively high speed DNA separations using liquid chromatography are described as potential replacement methods for gel electrophoresis. The potential for error detection and correction is illustrated with an application for DNA mutation detection. Recent publications are reviewed which describe a variety of life-science automation methods and miniaturization techniques.

Last modified: March 15, 1998