Bacterial Computing and Molecular Communication

Emerging technologies that enable the engineering of nano- or cell-scale systems using biological and/or artificially synthesized molecules as computing and communication devices have been receiving increased attention. This chapter focuses on “bacterial computing,” which attempts to create an autonomous cell-based Turing machine, and “molecular communication,” which attempts to create non-electromagnetic-wave-based communication paradigms by using molecules as an information medium. Section 2 introduces seminal works for constructing in vivo logic circuits, and focuses on research into implementing in vitro and in vivo finite automata in the framework of DNA-based computing. Furthermore, the first experimental development of a programmable in vivo computer that executes a finite-state automaton in bacteria is highlighted. Section 3 reports on the system design, experimental results, and research trends of molecular communication components (senders, molecular communication interfaces, molecular propagation systems, and receivers) that use bacteria, lipids, proteins, and DNA as communication devices.