English

The art of molecular computing: whence and whither

Biomolecules 2021-02-15 v1 Molecular Networks

Abstract

An astonishingly diverse biomolecular circuitry orchestrates the functioning machinery underlying every living cell. These biomolecules and their circuits have been engineered not only for various industrial applications but also to perform other atypical functions that they were not evolved for - including computation. Various kinds of computational challenges, such as solving NP-complete problems with many variables, logical computation, neural network operations, and cryptography, have all been attempted through this unconventional computing paradigm. In this review, we highlight key experiments across three different eras of molecular computation, beginning with molecular solutions, transitioning to logic circuits and ultimately, more complex molecular networks. We also discuss a variety of applications of molecular computation, from solving NP-hard problems to self-assembled nanostructures for delivering molecules, and provide a glimpse into the exciting potential that molecular computing holds for the future.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2102.06629,
  title  = {The art of molecular computing: whence and whither},
  author = {Sahana Gangadharan and Karthik Raman},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2102.06629},
  year   = {2021}
}

Comments

18 pages, 1 figure, 1 table, Supplementary information: 3 pages, 2 supplementary figures, 1 supplementary table

R2 v1 2026-06-23T23:06:38.689Z