Nanocolloquium Series: “Synthetic Computation in Living Cells,” Ramez Daniel (Israel Institute of Technology), UNAM Conference Hall, 3:40PM October 6 (EN)

Title: Synthetic Computation in living cells
Date: October 6, 2017 (Friday)
Time: 15:40
Place: UNAM Conference Hall

ABSTRACT –
Two major computation paradigms have been implemented so far in living cells – analog paradigm that computes with a continuous set of numbers and digital paradigm that computes with two-discreet set of numbers. Here, I analyze the biophysical and technological limits of large-scale gene networks created based on analog computation in living cells. More specifically, we calculate the precision of analog systems. Furthermore, an analytical description of a biophysical model recently developed for positive feedback linearization circuits and used in analog synthetic biology, is presented. In the second part, I propose a new framework that combines analog signals and digital computation. The analog signals are used to communicate between the digital networks, which provide reliable computational results and form the basis for screening. The two systems are connected via data converters from analog to digital domains and vice versa. In this talk, we show new design concepts for analog-to-digital converters (ADC) and digital-to-analog converters (DAC), with a minimal number of synthetic parts.

Bio: Ramez Daniel is an Assistant Professor leading the Synthetic Biology and Bioelectronics group in the department of biomedical engineering at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Ramez received the B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from Israel Institute of Technology in 2001, and the M.Sc. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Tel-Aviv University in 2010. From 2000 to 2006 Ramez was with Tower Semiconductor as a device/design engineer, and was a post-doctoral research fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from 2010-2014. During his work in MIT, Ramez has pioneered a new approach to design biological circuits called “analog genetic circuits”. Ramez won several awards and prizes (Leader in Science and Technology young academic chair, MAOF Fellowship for new faculty members, VATAT Fellowship for Ph.D. Study, Cum Laude for M.Sc. Study). His current research is focused on synthetic computation in living cells, bioelectronics and bioinspired technology for biomedical and biotechnology applications.

*Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology

All interested are cordially invited!
http://unam.bilkent.edu.tr/