Parallel Function Application on a DNA Substrate

Abstract

In this paper I present a new model that employs a biological (specifically DNA -based) substrate for performing computation. Specifically, I describe strategies for performing parallel function application in the DNA-computing models described by Adelman, Cai et. al., and Liu et. al. Employing only DNA operations which can presently be performed, I discuss some direct algorithms for computing a variety of useful mathematical functions on DNA, culminating in an algorithm for minimizing an arbitrary continuous function. In addition, computing genetic algorithms on a DNA substrate is briefly discussed.