@karthikraman

Synthetic analog and digital circuits for cellular computation and memory

, and . Current Opinion in Biotechnology, (October 2014)
DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2014.04.009

Abstract

Cellular computation will enable applications envisioned by synthetic biologists. Digital cellular circuits can perform increasingly complex logic functions. Recent analog cellular circuits calculate math functions using just a few parts. Memory devices can be based on bistable circuits or recombinase operations. Integrating digital, analog and memory circuits will enable 'next-gen' circuits Biological computation is a major area of focus in synthetic biology because it has the potential to enable a wide range of applications. Synthetic biologists have applied engineering concepts to biological systems in order to construct progressively more complex gene circuits capable of processing information in living cells. Here, we review the current state of computational genetic circuits and describe artificial gene circuits that perform digital and analog computation. We then discuss recent progress in designing gene networks that exhibit memory, and how memory and computation have been integrated to yield more complex systems that can both process and record information. Finally, we suggest new directions for engineering biological circuits capable of computation.

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