| |
The
sub-cellular biological world is full of phenomena that challenge physical
intuition: single-molecule machines, self-assembling architectures and
spontaneous information processing. These phenomena derive from the physical
character of biological macromolecules, which have passed through the
evolutionary design process and acquired the character of a technology.
Biological science has provided a qualitative understanding of many macromolecular
technological wonders, at least in their biological context, but we are
far from having the sort of profound understanding that would enable us
to rationally design similar macromolecular devices or interactions, with
or without biological relevance. In many cases, even an empirical basis
for quantitative, predictive modeling is lacking. Elucidation of the physical
principles that define and constrain macromolecular technology abstracted
from biological systems is the underlying theme of research in Fygenson
Lab.
|
|
