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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
10:28
Using Synthetic Biology to Engineer Living Cells That Interface with Programmable Materials
Published on: March 9, 2017
A synthetic biology challenge: making cells compute
Cheemeng Tan1, Hao Song, Jarad Niemi
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
Molecular Biosystems
|April 27, 2007
Summary
Synthetic biology enables engineering cells for computation. This study explores designing gene circuits for cell-based computing, discussing methods and challenges.
Area of Science:
- Synthetic biology
- Bioengineering
- Computational biology
Background:
- Advances in biological and engineering sciences facilitate cell reprogramming.
- Synthetic biology is an emerging field with broad application potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of engineering gene circuits for cellular computation.
- To illustrate basic concepts through mapping computational problems to gene circuits.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing technologies and computational methods for gene circuit design.
- Analysis of examples mapping computational problems to engineered gene circuits.
Main Results:
- Demonstration of basic concepts for cell-based computation using engineered gene circuits.
- Identification of available tools and methodologies for gene circuit development.
Conclusions:
- Engineering gene circuits for cellular computation is feasible.
- Challenges in the design cycle and cellular computation are discussed.
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