Seminar 24th September 2014 4 p.m. Building 6 (Nuffield Theatre), Room 1081, Highfield Campus, University of Southampton
CS4 Seminar Series - 'Molecules Designed for Chemical Network Memory and Non-Genetic Inheritance'
Chris Gordon-Smith
SimSoup Project
- Web page
- http://cs4southampton.wordpress.com/2014/09/16/chris-gordon-smith-24th-september-2014/
- Submitter
- Luke Goater
Chris Gordon-Smith
Abstract:
In this talk I will present a memory system based on an artificial chemistry. This is relevant as a ‘proof of concept’ for metabolism based Origin of Life theories, and in the field of biological and chemical computing. Each memory unit can be switched between three alternative active states. A unit maintains itself in a particular state using an autocatalytic reaction process. Switching between states occurs when an external stimulus triggers the autocatalytic process for the new state, along with an associated process that inhibits autocatalytic activity for the old state. I will show artificial molecular species with structures that support the autocatalytic and inhibiting processes. I will also present results from the SimSoup artificial chemistry simulator showing the operation of a 5-unit memory system with 243 alternative states (equivalent to just under 8 bits of memory). The design supports systems with more units, but computational requirements to run the simulator increase substantially. I will conclude the talk with a short review of some alternative network architectures for chemical memory and inheritance.
All CS4 talks are free and refreshments will be provided from 5pm. No registration is required. For videos of previous talks and details of future talks please visit:
http://cs4southampton.wordpress.com
CS4 is the seminar series for the Institute for Complex Systems Simulation which brings together world-class simulation modelling research activities from across the University of Southampton and hosts Southampton's Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) in Complex Systems Simulation