The Cell as a Computer - Turing Complete and Massively Parallel

Overview

Uncover the intriguing world where biology and technology intertwine with an exploration of cells functioning as Turing-complete biocomputers. Examine the striking parallels between cellular processes and computer components, and gain a deeper understanding of nature's revolutionary 4-billion-year-old computing paradigm.

This enlightening session offers invaluable insights into the essence of biological computing and its potential to revolutionize our understanding of technology's boundaries.

Syllabus

• Introduction to Biological Computing
Overview of biological computation
Historical context and significance
• Foundations of Cellular Computation
Basics of cellular biology relevant to computation
Molecular machinery and cellular processes
• Turing Completeness in Biology
Turing machines: an overview
Evidence for Turing-completeness in biological systems
Case studies: cellular automata and genetic circuits
• Cellular Processes as Computational Elements
DNA as a data storage medium
RNA and protein synthesis as information processing
Signal transduction pathways as computational networks
• Comparison of Biological and Traditional Computing
Parallelism in cellular systems versus conventional parallel computing
Error correction in biological systems
• Biocomputers: Harnessing Cellular Processes
Synthetic biology and bioengineering for computation
Design and application of biochemical circuits and logic gates
• The Role of Evolution in Biological Computing
Evolutionary algorithms inspired by nature
Adaptation and optimization in natural computation
• Case Studies and Applications
Current advancements in DNA computing and molecular programming
Potential applications in medicine, environmental science, and beyond
• Future Perspectives in Biological Computing
Challenges and ethical considerations
The future intersection of biology and computational technology
• Conclusion and Recap
Summary of key concepts
Discussion on the future of viewing cells as computational devices

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Subjects

Conference Talks