Nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) encode information digitally, and are currently the only truly 'user-programmable' entities at the molecular scale. They can be used to manufacture nano-scale structures, to produce physical forces, to act as sensors and actuators, and to do computation in between. Eventually we will be able to use them (directly or indirectly) to produce novel nanomaterials, and to interface them with biological machinery to detect and cure diseases at the cellular level. All under programmable control. Recently, computational schemes have been developed that are autonomous (run on their own power) and involve only short, easily producible, DNA strands with no other complex molecules. While simple in mechanism, these schemes are highly combinatorial and concurrent.

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By: Luke Scott
Last updated: Wednesday, 30 September 2015