Next Generation (OS E. coli v2.0)


Hamiltonian Path Problem

Is there a path through these 7 circles (nodes) using the available paths (directed edges)?

You must start at 1 and end at 5.

 

The only way to know is by trial and error.

What if bacteria could solve this problem for us?

 


We'd have to formulate the problem so bacteria could understand and solve the problem.

 

Is there a path through these 7 circles (genes) using the available paths (half-gene assemblies)?

You must start at 1 and end at 5.

Each ^ represents a Hix site.

5 is a transcriptional terminator.

The promoter is fused to the first half-gene.

 


 

Hin-mediated problem solving without human intervention.

Induce random flipping and select for bacteria that have solved the problem.

One liter of cells contains 1012 bacteria, each with 300 copies of the DNA problem.

 

Solution = 1, 4, 7, 2, 3, 6, 5.

 


Biology Department


© Copyright 2007 Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28036
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