Molecular Computing with Artificial Neurons

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Description/Abstract

Today's computers are built up from a minimal set of standard pattern recognition operations. Logic gates, such as NAND, are common examples. Biomolecular materials offer an alternative approach, both in terms of variety and context sensitivity. Enzymes, the basic switching elements in biological cells, are notable for their ability to discriminate specific molecules in a complex background and to do so in a manner that is sensitive to particular milieu features and indifferent to others. The enzyme, in effect, is a powerful context sensitive pattern recognizer. We describe a tabletop pattern processor that in a rough way can be analogized to a neuron whose input-output behavior is controlled by enzymatic dynamics.