Molecular autonomous agents

Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci. 2003 Jun 15;361(1807):1089-99. doi: 10.1098/rsta.2003.1186.

Abstract

I consider an autonomous agent to be a physical system able to act on its own behalf, such as a bacterium swimming up a glucose gradient. I tentatively define an autonomous agent to be a system capable of self-reproduction and at least capable of performing one thermodynamic work cycle. I give a hypothetical chemical example. I then explore the increasingly odd implications of this definition.

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Energy Transfer
  • Feedback
  • Feedback, Physiological*
  • Homeostasis
  • Models, Chemical
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / chemistry*
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Molecular Motor Proteins
  • DNA