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Aqueous computing: A survey with an invitation to participate

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Abstract

The concept of aqueous computing is presented here, first in full generality, and afterward, using an implementation in a specific enzymatic technology. Aqueous computing arose in the context of biomolecular (DNA) computing, but the concept is independent of the specifics of its biochemical origin. Alternate technologies for realizing aqueous computing are being considered for future implementation. A solution of an instance of the Boolean satisfiability problem, (SAT), is reported here that provides a new example of an aqueous computation that has been carried out successfully. This small instance of the SAT problem is sufficiently complex to allow our current enzymatic technology to be illustrated in detail. The reader is invited to participate in the rich interdisciplinary activity required by wet lab computing. A project is suggested to the reader for determining the three-colorings of a graph. The basic operations required for this project are exhibited in the solution of the SAT example reported here.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematical Sciences, Binghamton University, 13902-6000, Binghamton, New York, USA

    Tom Head

  2. Biological Sciences Department, Binghamton University, 13902-6000, Binghamton, New York, USA

    Xia Chen & Susannah Gal

  3. Computational Intelligence and System Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259, Nagasuta, 226, Yokohama, Japan

    Masayuki Yamamura

Authors
  1. Tom Head
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  2. Xia Chen
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  3. Masayuki Yamamura
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  4. Susannah Gal
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Correspondence to Tom Head.

Additional information

Tom Head is a professor of mathematics, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York USA. He received the B.S. and M.A. degrees from University of Oklahoma in 1954 and 1955 respectively and the Ph.D. degree from University of Kansas in 1962. During 1962 — present, he has published the works dealing with discrete, algebraic, linguistic, and biomolecular representation of structure, information, computation, communication, and biomolecular processes. Currently he is interested in understanding the limitations of human language, non-linguistic schemes of expression, and the origin and cosmic role of life.

Xia Chen received the B.S. in medicine from the Third Military Medical University, P.R. China, in 1983, and the Master degree in Biology from Binghamton University, USA, in 1997. Her interests include cell and molecular biology. She is currently a research scientist at the Institute of BioMedical Technologies at Binghamton University.

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Head, T., Chen, X., Yamamura, M. et al. Aqueous computing: A survey with an invitation to participate. J. Compt. Sci. & Technol. 17, 672–681 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02960757

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02960757

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