Biologically inspired computing

Dr. Wim Hordijk

Biologically Inspired Computing (Biocomputing) is a relatively new and exciting field
in which ideas and concepts from biology are used to design new computing techniques
("from biology to computing"). This is in contrast to, for example, Bioinformatics,
where computing techniques are used to understand more about biology ("from computing
to biology"). However, these new biologically inspired computing techniques can of
course also be used within Biology again, either as actual problem solvers or as
simple computational models, thus closing the loop.

This short course will introduce the ideas behind Biologically Inspired Computing and
some of its methods. First, the topic of search and optimization, and what exactly it means (from a computing point of view) for a problem to be "difficult", is addressed.
This will provide the right context and reason for why we are interested in new and
improved computing methods at all. Biologically Inspired Computing is then introduced,
including several concrete examples of these methods and how they are inspired by
biology. Four particular Biocomputing methods will then be presented in more detail:
- Evolutionary Computation (in particular Genetic Algorithms),
- Cellular Automata,
- Neural Networks, and
- Computer Immune Systems

Since Genetic Algorithms (GAs) are probably the most widely applicable and useful of
these Biocomputing techniques (especially for optimization problems), a more detailed
discussion of implementation issues for GAs is also presented. Finally, a brief overview
is given of where and how Biocomputing techniques can be applied to specific problem
areas in Biology. A short practical session is included at the end to play around and
become familiar with some of the presented techniques.

All lectures are at a fairly general level, avoiding mathematical and technical details
as much as possible. The course is meant to be an introduction, and to help people in
getting started with using some of these Biocomputing techniques.

Type : course, category K
Number of participants: maximum 40
Location: Lausanne, Biophore building
ECTS: 0.5

Schedule :
Day 1 (April 3rd), room 2213
09:30-12:30  Search & Optimization
                    Biologically Inspired Computing

14:00-17:00  Evolutionary Computation
                    Cellular Automata
                    Discussion and Q&A

Day 2 (April 4th), room 2107
10:00-12:30  Neural Networks
                    Computer Immune Systems

14:00-15:30  Genetic Algorithm Implementation Issues
                    Biocomputing Applications in Biology

16:00-17:00  Practical. room 1928

Handouts of the lectures:

Elisa Piaia
Coordinator of the Inter-University
Doctoral Program in Ecology and Evolution
Biophore building
University of Lausanne
Tel: +41 (0)21 692 4244
Fax: +41 (0)21 692 4165
E-mail: elisa.piaia(at)unil.ch