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The ABC of DNA Computing

 


5. Using complementarity to link connecting flights.

In the experiment, strands representing the flights are mixed in a test-tube with the complements to the strands representing the airports. If we let Atlanta* represent the complementary strand, etc., this gives

Atlanta


Atlanta*

Dallas


Dallas*

Chicago


Chicago*

The test-tube then holds

 


Atlanta*
Atl->Dal

Dallas*
Atl->Chi

Chicago*
Dal->Chi
etc.
Chi->Dal
 
etc.

When the contents are mixed, complementary sections of strand will bond,yielding products of reaction like:

 

          Atl->Dal
             
     
Atlanta*
              Atl->Chi
         
     
Atlanta*
              Dal->Chi
         
     
   Dallas*

and

 

              Atl->Dal          
            
    
   Atlanta*               Dallas*
     Atl->Dal         Dal->Chi
         
                           
               Dallas*

and

 

               Atl->Dal        Dal->Chi         
            
     
    Atlanta*           Dallas*         Chicago*