Abstract: This talk overviews recent work in the field of DNA-based autonomous biomolecular devices. We particularly emphasize molecular assemblies and molecular devices that are (i) self-assembled: that is they assemble into DNA nanostructures in one stage without explicit external control, (ii) programmable: the tasks the molecular devices execute can be modified without an entire redesign and (iii) autonomous: they operate without external mediation (e.g. thermal cycling). We describe recent experimental progress in DNA-based autonomous biomolecular devices that achieve: 2D patterning, computation, amplified sensing, and molecular nanoscale transport. These have taken the technology from a state of intriguing possibilities into demonstrated capabilities of quickly increasing scale, and we describe a number of very promising applications in the biomedical industry.

Brief Biography of the Speaker:
John H. Reif is A. Hollis Edens Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, Duke University. Also, Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, KAU, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia . He received a B.S. (magna cum laude) from Tufts University in 1973 and a M.S. and Ph.D from Harvard University in 1975 and 1977. He developed efficient randomized and parallel algorithms for a wide variety of graph, geometric, numeric, algebraic, and logical problems. He also has done applied research in parallel architectures, data compression, robotics, and optical computing. In the area of robotics, he gave the first hardness proofs for robotic motion planning as well as efficient algorithms for wide robotic motion planning problems. In the last five years he has led a group at Duke which has developed novel self-assembled DNA nanostructures and patterned DNA lattices, as well as various molecular robotic devices. He is the author of over 150 publications and has been awarded Fellow of Association for the following organizations: Advancement of Science (AAAS), IEEE, ACM and the Institute of Combinatorics. He is also President of Eagle Eye, Inc., which specializes in applications of DNA biotechnology.