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Article
Publication date: 24 August 2010

Kumar S. Ray and Piyali Chatterjee

The purpose of this paper is to propose an alternative approach to approximate reasoning by DNA computing, thereby adding a new dimension to the existing approximate reasoning…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an alternative approach to approximate reasoning by DNA computing, thereby adding a new dimension to the existing approximate reasoning method by bringing it down to nanoscale computing. The logical aspect of approximate reasoning is replaced by DNA chemistry.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this goal, first the synthetic DNA sequence fuzzified by quantum dot, which is a recent advancement of nanotechnology. Thus with the help of fuzzy DNA, which holds the vague concept of human reasoning, the basic method of approximate reasoning on a DNA chip is realized. This approach avoids the tedious choice of a suitable implication operator (for a particular application) necessary for existing approximate reasoning based on fuzzy logic. The inferred consequences obtained from DNA computing‐based approximate reasoning is ultimately hybridized with appropriate complementary sequence probed on a DNA‐chip to confirm the result of inference.

Findings

The present approach is suitable for reasoning under vague and uncertain environment and does not require any subject choice of any individual expert, which is essential for existing approximate reasoning method.

Originality/value

This new tool for approximate reasoning based on DNA computing is applicable to several problems of science and engineering; namely pattern classification, control theory, weather forecasting, atmospheric science, etc.

Details

International Journal of Intelligent Computing and Cybernetics, vol. 3 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-378X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2012

Kumar S. Ray and Mandrita Mondal

The purpose of this study is to develop a Turing machine or a finite automaton, which scans the input data tape in the form of DNA sequences and inspires the basic design of a DNA

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a Turing machine or a finite automaton, which scans the input data tape in the form of DNA sequences and inspires the basic design of a DNA computer.

Design/methodology/approach

This model based on a splicing system can solve fuzzy reasoning autonomously by using DNA sequences and human assisted protocols. Its hardware consists of class IIS restriction enzyme and T4 DNA ligase while the software consists of double stranded DNA sequences and transition molecules which are capable of encoding fuzzy rules. Upon mixing solutions containing these components, the automaton undergoes a cascade of cleaving and splicing cycles to produce the computational result in form of double stranded DNA sequence representing automaton's final state.

Findings

In this work, the authors have fused the idea of a splicing system with the automata theory to develop fuzzy molecular automaton in which 1,018 processors can work in parallel, requiring a trillion times less space for information storage, is 105 times faster than the existing super computer and 1,019 power operations can be performed using one Joule of energy.

Originality/value

This paper presents a generalized model for biologically inspired computation in nano scale.

Details

International Journal of Intelligent Computing and Cybernetics, vol. 5 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-378X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 July 2021

Mehdi Habibi, Yunus Dawji, Ebrahim Ghafar-Zadeh and Sebastian Magierowski

Nanopore-based molecular sensing and measurement, specifically DNA sequencing, is advancing at a fast pace. Some embodiments have matured from coarse particle counters to enabling…

Abstract

Purpose

Nanopore-based molecular sensing and measurement, specifically DNA sequencing, is advancing at a fast pace. Some embodiments have matured from coarse particle counters to enabling full human genome assembly. This evolution has been powered not only by improvements in the sensors themselves, but also in the assisting microelectronic CMOS readout circuitry closely interfaced to them. In this light, this paper aims to review established and emerging nanopore-based sensing modalities considered for DNA sequencing and CMOS microelectronic methods currently being used.

Design/methodology/approach

Readout and amplifier circuits, which are potentially appropriate for conditioning and conversion of nanopore signals for downstream processing, are studied. Furthermore, arrayed CMOS readout implementations are focused on and the relevant status of the nanopore sensor technology is reviewed as well.

Findings

Ion channel nanopore devices have unique properties compared with other electrochemical cells. Currently biological nanopores are the only variants reported which can be used for actual DNA sequencing. The translocation rate of DNA through such pores, the current range at which these cells operate on and the cell capacitance effect, all impose the necessity of using low-noise circuits in the process of signal detection. The requirement of using in-pixel low-noise circuits in turn tends to impose challenges in the implementation of large size arrays.

Originality/value

The study presents an overview on the readout circuits used for signal acquisition in electrochemical cell arrays and investigates the specific requirements necessary for implementation of nanopore-type electrochemical cell amplifiers and their associated readout electronics.

Article
Publication date: 1 December 2000

Robert Sleat

A system that began with DNA tagging of oil cargoes has expanded to provide tracers for such diverse commodities as grain, silk, antiques, diamonds, high value documents and…

Abstract

A system that began with DNA tagging of oil cargoes has expanded to provide tracers for such diverse commodities as grain, silk, antiques, diamonds, high value documents and packaging. It has been used for a great variety of purposes. One is the covert tracing of marked commodities that have entered the country as “grey” imports, sold at reduced prices. Other users are interested in authenticating products, particularly in the antiques trade. Authentication of documents can be achieved through the incorporation of a DNA tracer into the ink used to print the document. It would be impossible for counterfeiters to determine the sequence of the added DNA marker, particularly in the presence of other masking DNA. The number of unique tags that can be provided by a DNA molecule is of the order of 1060. Each application is unique and requires close collaboration between the company and the customer. It needs its own customized application and recovery procedure.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. 20 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 3 August 2020

Maryam AlJame and Imtiaz Ahmad

The evolution of technologies has unleashed a wealth of challenges by generating massive amount of data. Recently, biological data has increased exponentially, which has…

1148

Abstract

The evolution of technologies has unleashed a wealth of challenges by generating massive amount of data. Recently, biological data has increased exponentially, which has introduced several computational challenges. DNA short read alignment is an important problem in bioinformatics. The exponential growth in the number of short reads has increased the need for an ideal platform to accelerate the alignment process. Apache Spark is a cluster-computing framework that involves data parallelism and fault tolerance. In this article, we proposed a Spark-based algorithm to accelerate DNA short reads alignment problem, and it is called Spark-DNAligning. Spark-DNAligning exploits Apache Spark ’s performance optimizations such as broadcast variable, join after partitioning, caching, and in-memory computations. Spark-DNAligning is evaluated in term of performance by comparing it with SparkBWA tool and a MapReduce based algorithm called CloudBurst. All the experiments are conducted on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Results demonstrate that Spark-DNAligning outperforms both tools by providing a speedup in the range of 101–702 in aligning gigabytes of short reads to the human genome. Empirical evaluation reveals that Apache Spark offers promising solutions to DNA short reads alignment problem.

Details

Applied Computing and Informatics, vol. 19 no. 1/2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2634-1964

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 April 2018

Bushra Rafique, Mudassir Iqbal, Tahir Mehmood and Muhammad Ashraf Shaheen

This review aims to focus on recent reported research work on the construction and function of different electrochemical DNA biosensors. It also describes different sensing…

1884

Abstract

Purpose

This review aims to focus on recent reported research work on the construction and function of different electrochemical DNA biosensors. It also describes different sensing materials, chemistries of immobilization probes, conditions of hybridization and principles of transducing and amplification strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The human disease-related mutated genes or DNA sequence detection at low cost can be verified by the electrochemical-based biosensor. A range of different chemistries is used by the DNA-based electrochemical biosensors, out of which the interactions of nanoscale material with recognition layer and a solid electrode surface are most interesting. A diversity of advancements has been made in the field of electrochemical detection.

Findings

Some important aspects are also highlighted in this review, which can contribute in the creation of successful biosensing devices in the future.

Originality/value

This paper provides an updated review of construction and sensing technologies in the field of biosensing.

Details

Sensor Review, vol. 39 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0260-2288

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 16 July 2015

Martine Lappé and Hannah Landecker

This study analyzes the rise of genome instability in the life sciences and traces the problematic of instability as it relates to the sociology of health. Genome instability is…

Abstract

Purpose

This study analyzes the rise of genome instability in the life sciences and traces the problematic of instability as it relates to the sociology of health. Genome instability is the study of how genomes change and become variable between generations and within organisms over the life span. Genome instability reflects a significant departure from the Platonic genome imagined during the Human Genome Project. The aim of this chapter is to explain and analyze research on copy number variation and somatic mosaicism to consider the implications of these sciences for sociologists interested in genomics.

Methodology/approach

This chapter draws on two multi-sited ethnographies of contemporary biomedical science and literature in the sociology of health, science, and biomedicine to document a shift in thinking about the genome from fixed and universal to highly variable and influenced by time and context.

Findings

Genomic instability has become a framework for addressing how genomes change and become variable between generations and within organisms over the life span. Instability is a useful framework for analyzing changes in the life sciences in the post-genomic era.

Research implications

Genome instability requires life scientists to address how differences both within and between individuals articulate with shifting disease categories and classifications. For sociologists, these findings have implications for studies of identity, sociality, and clinical experience.

Originality/value

This is the first sociological analysis of genomic instability. It identifies practical and conceptual implications of genomic instability for life scientists and helps sociologists delineate new approaches to the study of genomics in the post-genomic era.

Details

Genetics, Health and Society
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78350-581-4

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 April 2010

Mirunali Balasundaram, Miranda Tsai, Amanda Clarke, Didi Leung, Sarah Munro, Susan Wagner, Michael Mayo, Richard Moore and Robert Holt

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a practical approach taken by utilizing the non‐conformance/event management and failure investigation (FI) system to formally troubleshoot…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a practical approach taken by utilizing the non‐conformance/event management and failure investigation (FI) system to formally troubleshoot an actual process failure observed in the sequencing facility.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study the authors describe how the cause for the poor quality sequence data, as indicated from the quality score, involving high molecular weight follicular lymphoma DNA samples for a study of tumor‐associated genome rearrangements was successfully identified and confirmed through the application of a well structured FI process.

Findings

Through this FI process the underlying causes were effectively identified, immediate corrective actions were executed and a preventative action to avoid or minimize reoccurrences was also implemented and monitored for effectiveness.

Originality/value

This paper establishes that by applying a systematic, documented FI process the underlying causes of a process failure in an organization can be effectively identified and appropriate corrective and preventative actions can be successfully adopted.

Details

Clinical Governance: An International Journal, vol. 15 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7274

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 May 2011

K. Dhanya, S. Syamkumar, S. Siju and B. Sasikumar

This study aims to treat the development and application of sequence characterised amplified region (SCAR) markers for the detection of plant based adulterants (dried red beet…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to treat the development and application of sequence characterised amplified region (SCAR) markers for the detection of plant based adulterants (dried red beet pulp and powdered Ziziphus nummularia fruits) in traded ground chilli.

Design/methodology/approach

Adulterant‐specific DNA fragments (red beet pulp specific – “Beet 01” and Z. nummularia specific – “Ziz 01”) identified by random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD‐PCR) analysis were cloned and sequenced for SCAR marker development. Red beet pulp specific SCAR primer pair, B1, and Z. nummularia specific SCAR primer pair, Z1, were designed from the corresponding RAPD marker sequences to amplify SCAR markers of 320 bp and 389 bp, respectively. The utility of the SCAR markers for adulterant detection was verified in model blends of chilli powder with the adulterants. Six commercial samples of ground chilli powder were analysed using the SCAR markers.

Findings

SCAR markers could detect the adulterants at a concentration as low as 10 g adulterant kg−1 of blended sample. The Z. nummularia SCAR marker could detect the presence of Z. nummularia fruit adulteration in one of the commercial samples. All the market samples tested were free from red beet pulp adulteration.

Practical implications

The PCR‐based method developed in the study is simple, rapid, and sensitive and has the potential to be developed into a quantitative analytical method and for commercial PCR kits for the large‐scale screening of ground chilli to detect and prevent plant‐based adulterants. The work has public health significance too, as ground chilli is one of the major spices consumed worldwide.

Originality/value

The study is the first report on the development of SCAR markers for adulterant detection in ground chilli. This work has relevance, as adulteration is a major concern of the sanitary and phytosanitary issues of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 113 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 April 1978

M.R. WALLACE

Recent developments in genetic engineering have dramatic implications for cybernetics. The possibility of rearranging the instructions on a DNA molecule to any given specification…

Abstract

Recent developments in genetic engineering have dramatic implications for cybernetics. The possibility of rearranging the instructions on a DNA molecule to any given specification is now accepted as inevitable by biologists. In this paper, we demonstrate that this opens up the possibility of using DNA and the genetic code for storing information of any kind whatsoever including computer programs. The self‐replicating nature of the double helix, its remarkable stability and its infinitessimal size offer considerable scope for the use of this molecule as a generalized means of storing information over and above its biological function in evolution.

Details

Kybernetes, vol. 7 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0368-492X

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