Counting, Computing, and Pattern Recognition with Self-Assembling Non-Reciprocal DNA Tiles
Abstract
Harnessing the intrinsic dynamics of physical systems for information processing opens new avenues for computation embodied in matter. Using simulations of a model system, we show that assemblies of DNA tiles capable of self-organizing into multiple target structures can perform basic computational tasks analogous to those of finite-state automata when equipped with programmable non-reciprocal interactions that drive controlled dynamical transitions between these structures. By establishing design rules for multifarious self-assembly while budgeting the energy input required to drive these non-equilibrium transitions, we demonstrate that these systems can execute a wide variety of tasks including counting, computing modulo functions, and recognizing specific input patterns. This framework integrates memory, sensing, and actuation within a single physical platform, paving the way toward energy-efficient physical computation embedded in materials ranging from DNA and enzymes to proteins and colloids.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2510.19503,
title = {Counting, Computing, and Pattern Recognition with Self-Assembling Non-Reciprocal DNA Tiles},
author = {Tim E. Veenstra and René van Roij and Marjolein Dijkstra},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.19503},
year = {2025}
}