Davidson 2006
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<big>'''The Burnt Pancake Problem'''</big><br> | <big>'''The Burnt Pancake Problem'''</big><br> | ||
| - | The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancake_sorting pancake problem] is a puzzle in which a scrambled series of units (or stack of pancakes) must be shuffled into the correct order. You can try solving [http://www.cut-the-knot.org/SimpleGames/Flipper.shtml a version of the pancake problem] yourself. | + | The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancake_sorting pancake problem] is a puzzle in which a scrambled series of units (or stack of pancakes) must be shuffled into the correct order and orientation. You can try solving [http://www.cut-the-knot.org/SimpleGames/Flipper.shtml a simple version of the pancake problem] yourself. |
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| - | |[[Image:four_pancakes.jpg|thumb|250px|left|'''Figure 1''' A scrambled stack of four burnt pancakes. ]]In the burnt pancake problem, each pancake is given an orientation by burning one side. Figure 1 shows a scrambled stack of burnt pancakes. | + | |[[Image:four_pancakes.jpg|thumb|250px|left|'''Figure 1''' A scrambled stack of four burnt pancakes. ]]In the burnt pancake problem, each pancake is given an orientation by burning one side. Figure 1 shows a scrambled stack of burnt pancakes. To solve the problem, every unit, or pancake, must be placed in the proper order (largest on bottom, smallest on top) and in the proper orientation (burnt side down, golden side up). The pancakes are flipped with two spatulas: one to lift pancakes off the top of the stack, the other to flip part (or all) of the remaining stack of pancakes. The pancakes lifted by the first spatula are returned to the top of the stack without being flipped. You can watch [[Media:burnt_pancake.ogg a movie]] of the stack in Figure 1 being sorted to see how the puzzle is solved. |
<big>'''Approach'''</big><br> | <big>'''Approach'''</big><br> | ||
| - | Trial and error is one approach to solving the burnt pancake problem, but how could one compute the quickest solution? Our idea is to let E. coli do the work, using each cell as a tiny processor in a massively parallel machine. | + | Trial and error is one approach to solving the burnt pancake problem, but how could one compute the quickest solution? Our idea is to let E. coli do the work, using each cell as a tiny processor in a massively parallel machine. A mathematical model of the flipping process helps us design the system and interpret the output of our EHOP computer. |
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Revision as of 16:52, 28 October 2006
 Project Overview [http://partsregistry.org/cgi/partsdb/pgroup.cgi?pgroup=iGEM2006partsregistry.org/cgi/partsdb/pgroup.cgi?pgroup=iGEM2006&group=Davidson Davidson Parts] Team Members Tools and Resources Check out our [http://www.bio.davidson.edu/courses/synthetic/photos/FlapJack_HotCakes.html Official Team Photo] |  |
Solving the Pancake Problem with an E. coli Computer
Our goal is to genetically engineer a biological system that can compute solutions to a puzzle called the burnt pancake problem. The EHOP computer is a proof of concept for computing in vivo, with implications for future data storage devices and transgenic systems. Our work was done in collaboration with the [http://2006.igem.org/wiki/index.php/Missouri_Western_State_University_2006 Missouri Western iGEM Team] and an undergraduate research fellow from [http://www.hamptonu.edu/ Hampton University].
The Burnt Pancake Problem
The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancake_sorting pancake problem] is a puzzle in which a scrambled series of units (or stack of pancakes) must be shuffled into the correct order and orientation. You can try solving [http://www.cut-the-knot.org/SimpleGames/Flipper.shtml a simple version of the pancake problem] yourself.
Building the Biological System
TEAM MEMBERS
Faculty
TOOLS AND RESOURCES
White Board Biology Tools (Wet Bench)
Math Tools
Bio-Math Tools
Assembly Plans Progress |
