DNA Implementation of Program Structure

摘要

Programming language is an artificial language for expressing all kinds of different computational processes, which can be performed by computing machines. At present, DNA can be used as nanoscale building blocks to construct pattern, circuit and autonomous machines. In order to extend the potentiality of designing computing nanomachines consisting of DNA, we construct three kinds of basic program structures including sequential structure, jump structure and loop structure based on DNA strand displacement cascades. It will form an autonomous programmable DNA system based on the manipulation of DNA strands. In this way, complex tasks can be transformed into specific algorithmic structure easily, which also can be performed by DNA device automatically. With this idea, we illustrate how to construct a simple register machine, which is an idealization of practical computers. This work gives a prototype to design autonomous programmable structures, which may be useful to realize molecular programming, control intelligent devices in future biological and medical applications.