Spring 2008
Math 297/Biol 497
Biomolecular Computing in
Nature
Spring 2008
With the advances in cell- and molecular- biology numerous examples of computing in nature are being identified. In this offering of Math 297/Biol 497 a specific example will be used as an introduction to this field. The example will be the method that ciliates use to maintain genetic diversity.
Ciliates are single-celled organisms with two types of nuclei. The one type of nucleus is an encrypted version of the other type. In some species the encryption is very sophisticated, and enormous amounts of DNA processing occurs to decrypt these encrypted nuclei. This ability to decrypt the encrypted nuclei is essential to the maintenance of genetic diversity of these species.
In this course we will present the known data regarding these ciliate cryptosystems, present currently proposed models for the decryption and encryption processes, and explore the consequences of the validity of these models for information processing, computing and technology.
Target audience: Students from the natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics), engineering, computer science and mathematics with a strong interest in interdisciplinary work.
Organization: This will be a 3-credit course which will be offered in a standard lecture classroom, but in close proximity to a computer laboratory. There will be assignments, a project and a final examination.
Location and time: MG 107 M-W-F 10:40 - 11:30
Professor: Marion Scheepers
Prerequisites: Any of the following courses: BIOL 301, CHEM 211, CE 320, COMPSCI 225, MATH 147, ME 280, PHYS 211.
Acknowledgement: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DMS-0527120. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.