Research Article
Breaking the Box: Simulated Protein Computing
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-642-32615-8_43, author={Christopher Eichelberger and Mirsad Hadzikadic}, title={Breaking the Box: Simulated Protein Computing}, proceedings={Bio-Inspired Models of Network, Information, and Computing Systems. 5th International ICST Conference, BIONETICS 2010, Boston, USA, December 1-3, 2010, Revised Selected Papers}, proceedings_a={BIONETICS}, year={2012}, month={10}, keywords={simulation protein parallel distributed complex adaptive system architecture}, doi={10.1007/978-3-642-32615-8_43} }- Christopher Eichelberger
Mirsad Hadzikadic
Year: 2012
Breaking the Box: Simulated Protein Computing
BIONETICS
Springer
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-32615-8_43
Abstract
Computers since the 1940s have shared the same basic architecture described by Turing and von Neumann, in which one central processor has access to one contiguous block of main memory. This architecture is challenged by modern applications that require greater parallelism, distribution, coordination, and complexity. Here we show that a model of protein interactions can serve as a new architecture, performing useful calculations in a way that provides for much greater scalability, flexibility, adaptation, and power than does the traditional von Neumann architecture. We found that even this simple simulation of protein interactions is universal, being able to replicate the calculation performed on a digital computer, yet without relying upon a central processor or main memory. We anticipate that the convergence of information- and life-sciences is poised to deliver a platform that invigorates computing as it provides insight into the complexity of living systems.