Implementing re-configurable biological computation with distributed multicellular consortia
Abstract
The use of synthetic biological circuits to deal with numerous biological challenges has been proposed in several studies, but its implementation is still remote. A major problem encountered is the complexity of the cellular engineering needed to achieve complex biological circuits and the lack of general-purpose biological systems. The generation of re-programmable circuits can increase circuit flexibility and the scalability of complex cell-based computing devices. Here we present a new architecture to produce reprogrammable biological circuits that allow the development of a variety of different functions with minimal cell engineering. We demonstrate the feasibility of creating several circuits using only a small set of engineered cells, which can be externally reprogrammed to implement simple logics in response to specific inputs. In this regard, depending on the computation needs, a device composed of a number of defined cells can generate a variety of circuits without the need of further cell engineering or rearrangements. In addition, the inclusion of a memory module in the circuits strongly improved the digital response of the devices. The reprogrammability of biological circuits is an intrinsic capacity that is not provided in electronics and it may be used as a tool to solve complex biological problems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Nov 28, 2022
- Source ID
- 10.1093/nar/gkac1120
Entities
People
- David Canadell
- Francesc Posas
- Javier Macia
- Laia de Nadal
- Nicolás Ortiz-vaquerizas
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Albert Ellis Institute
- Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology
- Federación Española de Enfermedades Raras
- Generalitat of Catalonia
- Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
- Office of Naval Research
- Pompeu Fabra University