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Bio-Nanorobotics 223

System B

External
Gradients

System C

Figure 7.18 Replicating stage of the system A into system B and system C. Systems B and C which could be
called the child systems are similar to system A in function and its configurations.

extrinsic gradients and the intrinsic material introduced. The triangles drawn in the figure above show
the configuration of the intrinsic materials of subsystems A1 and A2. The dotted lines depict the
interaction between the old intrinsic materials and the new ones and the possible configuration that
could be achieved. Now because the external gradients are still applicable a unique instability in the
system occurs. The system tries to self-balance and in the process leads to its most stable configur-
ations, which was its initial one (the initial configuration, system A).Figure 7.18 explains the concept.
In the end, the original system A replicates into systems B and C. Both these new systems have
the same functionalities as defined by the original system A, because they have received the same
configuration and the same intrinsic materials.

7.4.5 Design Parameters for Self-Replicating Systems

Following are the various design parameters that need to be considered while designing a self-
replicating system.

7.4.5.1 Selection of Intrinsic Materials

This is, of course, the most important parameter in designing the desired system. The obvious
choices would be biomaterials and chemicals found in the human body, which have exhibited self-
replication. Their choice is mainly because of their availability and the fact that they themselves are
the materials resulting from a replicative process. This does not limit the selection of other
replicative materials. Also a lot of data on nature’s biomaterials is available from the experiments
performed in the field of biology and genetic engineering. The field of nanotechnology is the
biggest area where the concept of self-replication system would be a success and the biomaterials
could be managed at that scale.

7.4.5.2 Defining the External Gradient Parameters

It is extremely important to define the external gradient parameters within which the system needs
to perform. Our choice of the intrinsic materials would be greatly impacted by their behavior. Also
their sensitivities to these external gradients need to be calculated so as to fine tune the system.