Applying artificial evolution to reconfigurable hardware to achieve hardware modelling of signal transduction

A new approach to evolvable hardware termed "Complete Hardware Evolution" (CHE), has been introduced at NTNU. In this approach the evolution process itself along with the evolving design are implemented on the same reconfigurable chip. This approach opens a number of interesting opportunities in which to utilise the logical capacity offered in advanced reconfigurable technology. One of these possibilities is developing methods and techniques for hardware modelling of complex systems. Complex systems may b e found in many research fields, one of which is biomedicine. In this project the CHE approach will be used along with other existing or developed techniques to model signal transduction within a cell. The model will be based on a network of signalling paths and processing blocks which will be allowed to evolve so a s to identify possible processes within signal transduction. These currently unidentified processes are a hindrance to further biomedical research in this area and, as such, there is a real need for the establishment of modelling techniques and ultimately tools to meet these needs. At the same time, these tools may be applied to other research areas involving unsolved complex processes.