Morphogenesis as a model for nano communication

MacLennan, Bruce J.

doi:10.1016/j.nancom.2010.09.007

Cited by 20 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…It arises from the behavior of individual cells, which is governed by their genetic regulatory circuitry, which governs their communication and coordination. Therefore, artificial morphogenesis presents itself as a possible approach to programmed self-assembly of large-scale systems [2], [12], [14]- [20].…”

Section: Artificial Morphogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Either way, natural morphogenesis will have to be adapted to artificial assemblers. This is an ongoing topic of research, but simulations have demonstrated, for example, the formation fine capillary networks by cell migration [26], pillar assembly by mobile agents [12], and the collision-free routing of neuron-like connections [27]. In morphogenesis, diffusion of morphogens can guide masses of mobile agents from waypoint to waypoint toward a destination.…”

Section: Artificial Morphogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Internal state and external signals cause a fetal cell to switch off some genetic regulatory circuits and to switch on others, thereby changing the behavior of the cell and utimately its structure. Analogous mechanisms allow assemblers to switch between behaviors (essentially activating or deactivating terms in differential equations) [12]. We do not expect artificial assemblers to have as wide a range of behaviors, since they do not construct themselves as cells do.…”

Section: Artificial Morphogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Morphogenetic Path to Programmable Matter

MacLennan

2015

Proc. IEEE

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This paper argues that the endpoint toward which reconfigurable systems should develop is programmable matter, where the detailed structure and physical properties of complex systems might be software definable.ABSTRACT | The endpoint toward which reconfigurable systems should develop is programmable matter, that is, complex systems whose physical properties and structure can be controlled in a systematic way. This can be accomplished by recognizing that computational processes can be used to assemble and reconfigure complex, hierarchically structured systems. Programmable matter may be programmatically controlled externally or internally, which includes selfassembly. The best approach to the self-assembly of complex, hierarchical systems, such as future robots with capabilities comparable to those of animals, is by artificial morphogenesis, which adapts embryological morphogenesis to artificial systems. We review the requirements of self-assembling morphogenetic components.

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Section: Artificial Morphogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Artificial Morphogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Artificial Morphogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Morphogenetic Path to Programmable Matter

MacLennan

2015

Proc. IEEE

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“…This is especially the case in embryological morphogenesis (creation of three-dimensional structure), for the information processing, communication, coordination, and self-organization of the cells is directed toward the creation of a specific physical object -the newborn organism. Likewise in artificial morphogenesis, the goal is less information processing than physical e↵ect; communication and computation are a means to this end [11,12,13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Embodied Computation: Applying the Physics of Computation to Artificial Morphogenesis

MacLennan

2012

Parallel Process. Lett.

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We discuss the problem of assembling complex physical systems that are structured from the nanoscale up through the macroscale, and argue that embryological morphogenesis provides a good model of how this can be accomplished. Morphogenesis (whether natural or artificial) is an example of embodied computation, which exploits physical processes for computational ends, or performs computations for their physical e↵ects. Examples of embodied computation in natural morphogenesis can be found at many levels, from allosteric proteins, which perform simple embodied computations, up through cells, which act to create tissues with specific patterns, compositions, and forms. We outline a notation for describing morphogenetic programs and illustrate its use with two examples: simple di↵usion and the assembly of a simple spine with attachment points for legs. While much research remains to be done -at the simulation level before we attempt physical implementations -our results to date show how we may implement the fundamental processes of morphogenesis as a practical application of embodied computation at the nano-and microscale.

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“…In cases where a set of different molecules are available as signal molecules, the order of arrival may impact the receiver reaction, and out-of-order molecule delivery may be prohibitive for some applications. For instance, artificial morphogenesis [12] is an application of molecular communication in which system components made of living cells communicate, grow, migrate, and differentiate to form a functional structure (e.g., tissues and organs for purposes of regenerative medicine). As in developmental biology, the structure formation of such an artificial biological system progresses slowly based on diffusion of signal molecules and it requires multiple steps.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%