FET: Medium: Collaborative Research: Engineerable Molecular Computing: Flying like an Airplane, not like a Bird

通过化学反应进行计算在生物学中很普遍，因为每个细胞都对内部和外部化学信号进行复杂的信息处理。设计同样能够决策的合成生化途径将影响制造，化学传感和医学中的一系列应用。由该项目资助的工作使用两种新的范式构建智能分子系统，虽然受到生物学的启发，但与进化的生物系统非常不同（类似于飞机如何通过拍打翅膀飞行）。该项目的成功将导致对化学反应如何进行信息处理的新理解，以及新一代功能分子器件。该项目与数学界妇女协会合作资助的教育和推广活动也解决了计算机科学研究中妇女比例低的严重问题。在各种分子的浓度中编码的信息）是分子计算胜过其电子对应物的地方。该项目通过两种新的范式推进计算机科学理论和实验能力，以利用核酸（DNA）进行化学信息处理：（1）通过反应的化学计量（独立于反应速率）编程的分子计算;（2）通过热力学的简单组合模型编程的分子计算。新的范例比现有的方法具有更强的鲁棒性和更容易的可编程性。此外，与现有的方法相比，这个建议将产生可重复使用的分子计算，从而切换输入的结果在动态更新output.This奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

Computation via chemical reactions is prevalent in biology as every cell performs sophisticated information processing on internal and external chemical signals. Engineering synthetic biochemical pathways that are likewise capable of decision-making will impact a range of applications in manufacturing, chemical sensing, and medicine. Work funded by this project constructs smart molecular systems using two novel paradigms that, although inspired by biology, are very different from evolved biological systems (analogously to how airplanes do not fly by flapping their wings). The success of this project will lead to a new understanding of how chemical reactions can perform information processing, and to a new generation of functional molecular devices. The educational and outreach activities funded by this project, in collaboration with the Association for Women in Mathematics, also address the serious problem of the low percentage of women in computer science research.Direct analysis and manipulation of molecular information (e.g., the information encoded in the concentrations of various molecules) is where molecular computing outcompetes its electronic counterparts. The project advances the computer science theory and experimental capability to engineer chemical information processing with nucleic acids (DNA) by two new paradigms: (1) molecular computation programmed by the stoichiometry of reactions (independent of reaction rates); (2) molecular computation programmed by a simple combinatorial model of thermodynamics. The new paradigms result in greater robustness and easier programmability than existing approaches. Also, in contrast to existing methods, this proposal will yield reusable molecular computation, whereby switching the input results in dynamically updating output.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.