Recent advances in synthetic biology and molecular engineering have opened exciting new directions for representing, processing, and securing digital information in biochemical substrates. DNA molecules, in particular, have emerged as a powerful medium not only for ultra-dense data storage but also for implementing computational processes and cryptographic mechanisms at the molecular level.
This Special Issue will focus on the use of synthetic and molecular biology for digital information systems. We invite contributions that explore theoretical foundations, algorithmic innovations, and practical implementations in this growing interdisciplinary field. Central topics of interest include:
- DNA-based data storage, including coding strategies for noisy biochemical channels, sequence reconstruction algorithms, and information-theoretic capacity analyses
- DNA and molecular computing, with emphasis on models of computation, biochemical circuit design, and algorithmic processes implemented in wet lab settings
- Molecular cryptography and security, covering DNA-based authentication, secure data embedding, and privacy-preserving operations using biochemical primitives
We particularly welcome work that applies tools from coding and information theory, algorithms, and machine learning to the design and analysis of molecular information systems. Submissions that introduce new models, formal frameworks, or experimentally grounded insights are encouraged. Other applications of synthetic biology and molecular systems to digital information, beyond the core focus areas, will also be considered. Survey papers on any topic will also be considered (potential authors are encouraged to inquire with the Guest Editors).
Paper submission link:
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Important Dates
- Manuscript Submission Deadline: 15 October 2025
- First Notification: 15 January 2026
- Acceptance Notification: 15 February 2026
- Final Manuscript Due: 15 March 2026
- Publication Date: May 2026
Guest Editors
- Daniella Bar-Lev, University of California San Diego, USA
- Rawad Bitar, Technical University of Munich
- Marc Riedel, University of Minnesota
- Eitan Yaakobi, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Israel