Dynamic self-assembly and computation: From biological to information systems

Abstract

We present two ways in which dynamic self-assembly can be used to perform computation, via stochastic protein networks and self-assembling software. We describe our protein-emulating agent-based simulation infrastructure, which is used for both types of computations, and the few agent properties sufficient for dynamic self-assembly. Examples of protein-network-based computation and self-assembling software are presented. We describe some novel capabilities that are enabled by the inherently dynamic nature of the self-assembling executable code. © Springer-Verlag 2004.