Imitation of Life: How Biology Is Inspiring Computing
As computers and the tasks they perform become increasingly complex, researchers are looking to nature — as model and as metaphor — for inspiration. The organization and behavior of biological organisms present scientists with an invitation to reinvent computing for the complex tasks of the future. In Imitation of Life, Nancy Forbes surveys the emerging field of biologically inspired computing, looking at some of the most impressive and influential examples of this fertile synergy.Forbes...
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How scientists are using nature as model and metaphor to reinvent computing: a survey of an emerging field. Library Journal Forbes, a science/technology analyst for the federal government, has advanced degrees in both physics and the humanities; this book demonstrates that she has also developed a broad familiarity with the biological sciences. Covered here are several aspects of biology and computing: the use of biology in algorithm construction, the study of how biological systems communicate and process information, and the development of information processing systems that use biological materials, are based on biological models, or both. Demonstrating how timely this work is, a recent issue of Nature (May 2004) carried a lead article on a DNA "computer" able to detect cancer. Although the "computer" had only been verified in a test tube, biomedical personnel were enthusiastic about future applications with live patients. This book details a wide variety of work at different institutions focusing on genetic algorithms, neural networks, DNA computation, biohardware and bioelectronics, and amorphous computing. Though the text is clearly written, it offers a lot of technical information. Recommended for biologists, computer scientists, multidisciplinarians, and technical thinkers ready to learn about applications in the field of biological computing.-Hilary Burton, formerly with Lawrence Livermore National Lab, CA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
1Artificial neural networks12Evolutionary algorithms133Cellular automata254Artificial life375DNA computation516Biomolecular self-assembly677Amorphous computing838Computer immune systems979Biologically inspired hardware11310Biology through the lens of computer science139
\ From the Publisher"...A whirlwind history, richer even than its subtitle suggests." John Doyle and Marie Csete Nature\ "...Forbes [is] an expert guide to the hottest research in a potentially revolutionary area of technology." Gilbert Taylor Booklist\ "Though the text is clearly written, it offers a lot of technical information.\ Recommended..." Susan B. Hagloch Library Journal\ \ \ \ \ \ Library JournalForbes, a science/technology analyst for the federal government, has advanced degrees in both physics and the humanities; this book demonstrates that she has also developed a broad familiarity with the biological sciences. Covered here are several aspects of biology and computing: the use of biology in algorithm construction, the study of how biological systems communicate and process information, and the development of information processing systems that use biological materials, are based on biological models, or both. Demonstrating how timely this work is, a recent issue of Nature (May 2004) carried a lead article on a DNA "computer" able to detect cancer. Although the "computer" had only been verified in a test tube, biomedical personnel were enthusiastic about future applications with live patients. This book details a wide variety of work at different institutions focusing on genetic algorithms, neural networks, DNA computation, biohardware and bioelectronics, and amorphous computing. Though the text is clearly written, it offers a lot of technical information. Recommended for biologists, computer scientists, multidisciplinarians, and technical thinkers ready to learn about applications in the field of biological computing.-Hilary Burton, formerly with Lawrence Livermore National Lab, CA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.\ \
