Bio Molecular Computing -Next Generation Computers

Molecular computing is an emerging field to which chemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, electronic engineering, solid state physics
and computer science contribute to a large extent. It involves the encoding, manipulation and retrieval of information at a macromolecular level in contrast to the current techniques, which accomplish the above functions via IC miniaturization of bulk devices. The biological systems have unique abilities such as pattern recognition, learning, self-assembly and selfreproduction as well as high speed and parallel information processing. The aim of this article is to exploit these characteristics to build computing systems, which have many advantages over their inorganic (Si,Ge) counterparts.

Biomolecular computers have the real potential for solving problems of high computational complexities and therefore, many problems are still associated with this field. The difficulty of devising an interface is therefore the sensitive dependence on a biological environment,
susceptibility to degradation, senescence and infection, etc. Nevertheless, it offers the best approach to human cognitive equivalence. But like any radically new technology, there is a daunting learning and manufacturing curve that must first be overcome before these molecular devices can find a practical use in everyday life. They are still five to ten years away from becoming a commercial reality.