After architecture : charting a new course

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1998.Includes bibliographical references (p. 96-107).The thesis is a synthesis of technology, art, science, computation and philosophy in charting a new course for architecture. It attempts to address the questions: Can architecture model natural phenomena's or nonlinear processes? Can we have a theory for the generation of architectural forms? The site becomes an impetus for wider search which parallels emerging scientific & nonlinear paradigms, resulting in a nonlinear thesis the final product of which is not inevitable. The site becomes the model of thinking and testing. The thesis addresses the importance for architecture to recognize the convergence of two most powerful disciplines i.e. Biology and Information technology, that would have a major impact on humanity and bio-sphere in the next millennium. It is an attempt to find new forms of inspiration from nature, to find a theory of generation of forms at a period when as a result of the technological advancements in genetic engineering, biotechnology, computation, information technology and molecular engineering (nanotechnology), the relationship between man and nature is getting blurred. Ideas and concepts of artificial life, genetics and biological analogies are proving to be very valuable in the advancement of computational techniques (genetic algorithms, genetic programs) and material sciences (bio-materials, nano-technology, memory shaped alloys). This thesis explores the potentiality for architecture to engage and embrace the emerging paradigms shifts in science and interpret them architecturally and to find ways in which architecture could interface at this convergence of Biology and Information technology. This challenge demands creative exploration at the levels of architectural theory, design strategy or concepts, methods and realization. The final product is a process that is based on biological analogies and genetics, coupled with emerging computational techniques of genetic programming as a generating force for architecture. The primary inspiration comes from the fundamental basis of genetics and evolution and the information systems of nature. A prototype system built as part of this thesis integrates evolution, both as a metaphor and an active generative modeling tool, with the interpretive aspects of the design process. The architect is firmly in control but the evolution module aids him or her by providing the unexpected 3-D spatial and volumetric configurations which would be impossible to conceive otherwise and suggesting novel combinations or adaptations of forms currently under consideration.by Girish Ramachandran.M.Arch

Establishment of computational biology in Greece and Cyprus: Past, present, and future.

We review the establishment of computational biology in Greece and Cyprus from its inception to date and issue recommendations for future development. We compare output to other countries of similar geography, economy, and size—based on publication counts recorded in the literature—and predict future growth based on those counts as well as national priority areas. Our analysis may be pertinent to wider national or regional communities with challenges and opportunities emerging from the rapid expansion of the field and related industries. Our recommendations suggest a 2-fold growth margin for the 2 countries, as a realistic expectation for further expansion of the field and the development of a credible roadmap of national priorities, both in terms of research and infrastructure funding

Multi-scale cellular engineering: From molecules to organ-on-a-chip.

Recent technological advances in cellular and molecular engineering have provided new insights into biology and enabled the design, manufacturing, and manipulation of complex living systems. Here, we summarize the state of advances at the molecular, cellular, and multi-cellular levels using experimental and computational tools. The areas of focus include intrinsically disordered proteins, synthetic proteins, spatiotemporally dynamic extracellular matrices, organ-on-a-chip approaches, and computational modeling, which all have tremendous potential for advancing fundamental and translational science. Perspectives on the current limitations and future directions are also described, with the goal of stimulating interest to overcome these hurdles using multi-disciplinary approaches

DNA Computation Based Approach for Enhanced Computing Power

DNA computing is a discipline that aims at harnessing individual molecules at the nano-scopic level for computational purposes. Computation with DNA molecules possesses an inherent interest for researchers in computers and biology. Given its vast parallelism and high-density storage, DNA computing approaches are employed to solve many problems. DNA has also been explored as an excellent material and a fundamental building block for building large-scale nanostructures, constructing individual nano-mechanical devices, and performing computations. Molecular-scale autonomous programmable computers are demonstrated allowing both input and output information to be in molecular form. This paper presents a review of recent advancements in DNA computing and presents major achievements and challenges for researchers in the coming future