Nature's I.T. -- Scientists Discuss Use of DNA and Information Technology

Jun 09, 02:45 PM

Current Headlines: By Daniel Connolly danielconnolly@commercialappealcom

Computer science experts from around the world are gathering at the University of Memphis this week to discuss ways to build the next generation of computers and medicines.

The central premise of the gathering, called the 13th International Conference on DNA Computing, is that nature is better than human beings at making complex systems.

"Biological organisms are much smarter than humans," said Dr. Max Garzon, a professor of computer science at the University of Memphis and an organizer of the event.

He said, for example, that human beings can't make any robot that is nearly as complex as an ant.

"An ant will have autonomy," he said. "An ant

will take initiative. It will be hungry and go out and look for food."

It even reproduces and has the instinct to protect itself if attacked. Meanwhile, human beings have trouble creating a robot that can do something as simple as walk, he said.

The field of DNA computing was born in 1994, Garzon said, when a University of Southern California computer scientist named Len Adleman wrote a paper describing his efforts to use biological methods to solve a problem called the traveling salesman puzzle.

The puzzle requires someone to find the shortest route among several different cities.

Adleman used a complex method to use snippets of DNA to solve the problem, Garzon said. The first conference on DNA computing was conducted to discuss the paper, and the gathering in Memphis is the continuation of that effort, he said.

Today, scientists have concluded that DNA methods aren't the most efficient way to solve mathematical problems, he said. But biological elements could be used in a process called "self- assembly." By putting together proteins or other biological items in the correct manner, they could be triggered to build a complex, tiny machine.

"The holy grail, if you wish, is to build computational devices, intelligent devices, out of DNA molecules and other molecules," he said.

"What you're doing is copying nature and building stuff from the bottom up," said Urmi Majumder, a graduate student at Duke University who spoke at the conference about her research.

She said that in addition to new electronics, the process could make new types of medicines, such as new drugs for targeting cancer.

Majumder, 24, is originally from India. Others of the roughly 120 visitors in attendance came from as far away as Hungary, Italy and Japan.

The scientists heard hours of lectures at the university's FedEx Institute, but took a special break Wednesday.

"Are you ready for Graceland?" Garzon asked the group. He went on to explain that buses would ferry them to Elvis Presley's home or other area attractions.

But before they left, they had to pose for a group picture on the steps inside the building. "Get much more friendly," someone with a camera said, urging the group to crowd together.

"More self-assembled!" someone in the group replied.

- Daniel Connolly: 529-5296

--------------------

13th Annual Conference on DNA Computing

Scientists are discussing ways to use biological methods to make microscopic machines.

The conference started earlier this week at the FedEx Institute at the University of Memphis and continues with a special symposium on nanotechnology today.

(c) 2007 Commercial Appeal, The. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.