Deoxyribozyme-Based Molecular Computation - DNA Nanotechnology: From Structure to Function - page 348

reconfigurable deoxyribozymes to build a multipurpose reprogrammable molecular
automaton that goes beyond single-purpose “hardwired” molecular automata. Thus,
it can be taught to play a game by example in a process that does not require the
operator to be familiar with the underlying molecular programming. MAYA and
MAYA-II are large molecular circuits hardwired to play only one strategy of the
game. MAYA-III is, in contrast, a programmable protoautomaton that can be trained
to perform any strategy of an invented retributive game.

17.4 Concluding Remarks

Deoxyribozyme-based molecular computation is a form of computing which uses
DNA instead of the traditional silicon-based computer technologies. Molecular cir-
cuits and networks are built by integrating molecular logic gates. The ability to truly
integrate molecular computing logic gates is crucial for the construction of complex
circuits. With rapid progress in the design of modular computing components,
the larger scale, higher level, and more complexity of molecular computing using
deoxyribozyme-based logic gates is expected. However, deoxyribozyme-based
molecular computation does not aim to compete with silicon-based computers.
Instead, due to biocompatibility, deoxyribozyme-based computing is to develop
molecular circuits which will do useful work in a solution-phase environment like
biomedical therapy or analysis [ 5 , 11 , 56 - 60 ].

Acknowledgment This material is based upon work supported by Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society, NSF, NASA, and Searle to Milan N. Stojanovic. The author gratefully acknowledges
Milan N. Stojanovic for support and encouragement.

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