Title
Molnets: An artificial chemistry based on neural networks
Date Issued
01 December 2002
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
conference paper
Author(s)
Wayne State University
Abstract
The fundamental problem in the evolution of matter is to understand how structure-function relationships are formed and increase in complexity from the molecular level all the way to a genetic system. We have created a system where structure-function relationships arise naturally and without the need of ad hoc function assignments to given structures. The idea was inspired by neural networks, where the structure of the net embodies specific computational properties. In this system networks interact with other network to create connections between the inputs of one net and the outputs of another. The newly created net then recomputes its own synaptic weights, based on anti-hebbian rules. As a result some connections may be cut, and multiple nets can emerge as products of a 'reaction'. The idea is to study emergent reaction behaviors, based on simple rules that constitute a pseudophysics of the system. These simple rules are parameterized to produce behaviors that emulate chemical reactions. We find that these simple rules show a gradual increase in the size and complexity of molecules. We have been building a virtual artificial chemistry laboratory for discovering interesting reactions and for testing further ideas on the evolution of primitive molecules. Some of these ideas include the potential effect of membranes and selective diffusion according to molecular size.
Start page
765
End page
772
Volume
12
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Química física
Ingeniería de sistemas y comunicaciones
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-0037004237
Conference
Intelligent Engineering Systems Through Artificial Neural Networks - Proceedings of the Artificial Neutral Networks in Engineering Conference:Smart Engineering System Design
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus