Software Engineering for Molecular Programming

Molecular programming combines computer science prin- ciples with the information-processing power of DNA and other biomolecules to design self-assembling, programmable systems at the nanoscale. Molecular programming is the programming of matter to do our bidding at molecular scales, and it is programming in the literal sense of computer sci- ence. Targeted and customized medical therapeutics, cheap and reliable bio-sensors, molecular robots, smart materials, and bio-compatible computer electronics are applications of molecular programming that are poised to have a major im- pact on society. Several software development techniques have been ex- tended recently to make planned molecular systems more productive, predictable and safe. Among those shown to be effective for molecular programming are goal-oriented requirements engineering, reaction network models for de- sign, and probabilistic model checking for verification. Chal- lenges that software engineering helps address include han- dling scalability for very large numbers of devices or services, dealing with uncertain and probabilistic behavior, and pre- dicting the limits of safe operation.