Dynamic modulation of external conditions can transform chemistry into logic gates

Matthew Egbert; Jean-Sébastien Gagnon; Juan Pérez-Mercader

doi:10.1098/rsif.2018.0169

Dynamic modulation of external conditions can transform chemistry into logic gates

J R Soc Interface. 2018 Jul;15(144):20180169. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0169.

Authors

Matthew Egbert^{1

2}, Jean-Sébastien Gagnon³, Juan Pérez-Mercader⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
² Department of Computer Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
³ Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA gagnon01@fas.harvard.edu.
⁴ Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA.

Abstract

We introduce a new method for transforming chemical systems into desired logical operators (e.g. NAND gates) or similar signal-manipulation components. The method is based upon open-loop dynamic regulation, where external conditions such as feed-rate, lighting conditions, etc., are modulated according to a prescribed temporal sequence that is independent of the input to the network. The method is first introduced using a simple didactic model. We then show its application in transforming a well-stirred cubic autocatalytic reaction (often referred to as the Selkov-Gray-Scott model) into a logical NAND gate. We also comment on the applicability of the method to biological and other systems.

Keywords: chemical logic gate; dynamical system control; natural computing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Computers, Molecular*
Logic
Models, Chemical*