Whole-cell biocomputing.
Trends Biotechnol
; 19(8): 317-23, 2001 Aug.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11451474
The ability to manipulate systems on the molecular scale naturally leads to speculation about the rational design of molecular-scale machines. Cells might be the ultimate molecular-scale machines and our ability to engineer them is relatively advanced when compared with our ability to control the synthesis and direct the assembly of man-made materials. Indeed, engineered whole cells deployed in biosensors can be considered one of the practical successes of molecular-scale devices. However, these devices explore only a small portion of cellular functionality. Individual cells or self-organized groups of cells perform extremely complex functions that include sensing, communication, navigation, cooperation and even fabrication of synthetic nanoscopic materials. In natural systems, these capabilities are controlled by complex genetic regulatory circuits, which are only partially understood and not readily accessible for use in engineered systems. Here, we focus on efforts to mimic the functionality of man-made information-processing systems within whole cells.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Biología Computacional
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Trends Biotechnol
Año:
2001
Tipo del documento:
Article
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido