Techniques for recording signals

Abstract

The present invention provides techniques of recording signals. In one aspect of the invention, a method of recording a signal comprises the following steps. One or more errors are selectively introduced during synthesis of a polymer in response to the signal. The one or more occurrences of the one or more errors in the synthesized polymer are recorded. The synthesis of the polymer may comprise a polymer synthetase that can selectively introduce the one or more errors in response to the signal. A method for analyzing signals is also provided.

1 . A method of recording a signal, the method comprising: 
 selectively introducing one or more errors during synthesis of a polymer in response to the signal; and    recording one or more occurrences of the one or more errors in the synthesized polymer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the signal is a cellular signal.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises a biopolymer.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the signal is selected from the group consisting of calcium concentrations, cyclic AMP concentrations, cyclic GMP concentrations, voltage, pH and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing signals.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the synthesis of the polymer comprises a polymer synthetase that can selectively introduce the one or more errors in response to the signal.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the synthesis of the polymer comprises a polymerase that can selectively introduce the one or more errors in response to the signal.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the synthesis of the polymer comprises a deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase that can selectively introduce the one or more errors in response to the signal.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the signal correlates with cellular activity.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the signal correlates with a nerve impulse.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid derivatives, ribonucleic acid derivatives, proteins, carbohydrates and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing polymers.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an inherent error rate during synthesis of the polymer is less than or equal to about 1×10 −5  errors per subunit.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein synthesis of the polymer progresses at a known rate.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein signal recording is performed in vitro.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein signal recording is performed in vivo.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the polymer synthetase can selectively introduce the one or more errors by a change in conformation induced by the signal.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recording step further comprises the step of comparing an actual composition of the polymer synthesized with a predicted composition for the polymer.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the predicted composition is derived from a complementary biopolymer.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a stimuli to induce the signal.  
     
     
         19 . A method of analyzing signals, the method comprising: 
 simultaneously recording a plurality of signals from a plurality of sources by the steps of: 
 selectively introducing one or more errors during synthesis of polymers in response to the plurality of signals;  
 recording one or more occurrences of the one or more errors in the synthesized polymers; and  
   comparing the one or more recorded occurrences of the one or more errors for the plurality of sources.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of sources comprises one or more cells.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of signals are selected from the group consisting of calcium concentrations, cyclic AMP concentrations, cyclic GMP concentrations, voltage, pH and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing signals.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the synthesis of the polymers comprises at least one polymer synthetase that can selectively introduce the one or more errors in response to the plurality of signals.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of signals correlate with one or more cellular activities.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of signals correlate with nerve impulses.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the polymers are selected from the group consisting of deoxyribonucleic acid, ribonucleic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid derivatives, ribonucleic acid derivatives, proteins, carbohydrates and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing polymers.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein an inherent error rate during synthesis of the polymers is less than or equal to about 1×10 −5  errors per subunit.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein synthesis of the polymers progresses at a known rate.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one polymer synthetase can selectively introduce the one or more errors by a change in conformation induced by the plurality of signals.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the recording step further comprises the steps of: 
 comparing compositions of the polymers synthesized with predicted compositions for the polymers;    identifying the one or more errors in the polymer synthesized; and    analyzing the one or more errors.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the predicted compositions are derived from complementary polymers.