Programming Molecules Using Biology, Chemistry, and Computer Science

Information in DNA and RNA lies at the heart of all biological systems, orchestrating the synthesis of molecular machines and all of life's chemical processes. As our understanding of biological information systems has grown, so has our ability to engineer living organisms.  It is now becoming possible to rewrite the genome, enabling cells to perform new computations that interface seamlessly with existing ones. Even within non-biological systems, the principles and mechanisms of molecular biology have served as proof-of-principle and inspiration for engineering molecular systems of remarkable sophistication. In both cases, the concepts and tools of computer science provide a framework for exploring the design of molecular systems and chemical processes. In this session, speakers at the forefront of this revolution cover developments in biology, chemistry, physics, and computer science. They will share how programming at the molecular level is expected to enable stunning new applications, including carbon-neutral chemical engineering, new "algorithmic" materials, incredibly sensitive molecular diagnostics, and patient-specific therapeutics.