On-chip platform for biological cellular automata models using swimming paramecium cells
Résumé
Automata theory is the mathematical study of abstract machines related to the theoretical computer science and highly interdisciplinary fields. Recent cellular automata research uses a method of traffic handling by considering the demands (vehicles) as autonomous agents. Living cells of Paramecium species are good models for studying cellular signal transduction mechanisms required for cellular autonomy. Now, it is tempting to employ these “swimming sensory cells” as autonomous agents in the traffic control model. In this study, the decision-making process in the living cells of green paramecia (Paramecium bursaria) is described as naturally existing automata. We further aimed to implement the swimming environment of P. bursaria on microchips as the platform to testify the properties of living cellular automata. For this purpose, the series of microchips were fabricated for cellular swimming platform for P. bursaria. Finally, microchips equipped with optimally sized micro-flow channels for allowing the single cell traffic by swimming P. bursaria were successfully prepared, and thus further studies for application of P. bursaria cells in BioMEMS are encouraged. Finally, putative roles of paramecium-derived automata as the interchangeable parts for cell-based computing or robotic systems are discussed.