Beginnings of Molecular Computing

Abstract

“We can see only a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.” These words of Turing [213] can be taken as an underlying principle of any program for scientific development. Such an underlying principle is very characteristic for research programs in computer science. Advances in computer science are often shown by and remembered from some unexpected demonstration, rather than from a dramatic experiment as in physical sciences. As pointed out by Hartmanis [83], it is the role of such a demo to show the possibility or feasibility of doing what was previously thought to be impossible or not feasible. Often, the ideas and concepts brought about and tested in such demos determine or at least influence the research agenda in computer science. Adleman’s experiment [1] constituted such a demo. This book is about the short distance we can see ahead, and about the theoretical work already done concerning various aspects of molecular computing. The ultimate impact of DNA computing cannot yet be seen; this matter will be further discussed in Sect. 2.4.