Complexity from simple building blocks: Engineering large-scale information processing networks from molecules

Abstract

Complexity in molecular systems can manifest itself either structurally or functionally. One of the more complex functions encountered in the natural world is that of information processing, or computation. Similarly, artificial cells will require this capacity to fully exploit their potential. Here I review the state of the art in the field, describe our contribution to this challenge in the framework of NCCR Molecular Systems Engineering, and propose an outlook for future efforts.