Work

Biocomputers: from test tubes to live cells

Year: 2009

Type: review

Abstract: Biocomputers are man-made biological networks whose goal is to probe and control biological hosts--cells and organisms--in which they operate. Their key design features, informed by computer science and engineering, are programmability, modularity and versatility. While still a work in progress, biocomputers will eventually enable disease diagnosis and treatment with single-cell precision, lead to "designer" cell functions for biotechnology, and bring about a new generation of biological measurement tools. This review describes the intellectual foundation of the "biocomputer" concept as well as surveys the state of the art in the field.

Source: Molecular BioSystems

DOI: 10.1039/b902484k

Author: Yaakov Benenson

Institutions: Harvard University, Center for Systems Biology

Language: English

Topic: Gene Regulatory Network Analysis

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Awards: Biological Diversity: Generation, Control and Exploitation, G5449212373