Design Details

In the early stages of the model process there is one “Cube” which is a space-filling polyhedron. With the help of nanotechnology this component replicates itself and the copies obtained may differentiate to some extent. After the component has replicated itself many times, all faces on each component are coded with a codon from a complete sequence of DNA (see movie 1 & image 1 - movie is large and may take a few minutes to download).

Next the components are distributed randomly in a glass box which is shaken to produce a sequence of new arrangements. During this process each face of each component will try to look for the matching face that completes its sequence, just like what happens when two strands of DNA join together, where a G has to match a C and A has to match a T and vice versa. For example, CGT has to fall on GCA.

After a while the components will settle to form a certain shape: which I prefer to call a temporary form because it is a product of emergence and it is subject to transformations and changes in the process of becoming. Then they can be manipulated again by changing one or two or even more of the sequences on the faces of one of the components; they’ll try again to push one another to form a different pattern to match the new sequence, and this is pattern formation (see movie 2 & image 2 - movie is large and may take a few minutes to download).
The whole idea is simple, there are simple rules guiding the way. These 3D components need to know nothing else but this simple rule which is: every face on the component has to find its match according to the given example above: high coordination. The ability to grow generative structures comes from their self-organization that is guided by the internal effects: the rules, whereas the change in the sequence: the external effect results in the ability for adaptation. This is what happens in real life, where complicated forms grow from simple rules between the components.

There is high geometry on the individual level and on the coherent whole. There is simplicity in this generative complex system, thus the model exhibits an emergent behavior on all levels and scales.

I would like to stress the fact that the same idea can be applied to much larger systems with millions or hundreds of millions of components and this is where the product becomes a nano-form where smoothness is at its highest level.

Changing the sequence is equivalent to an external effect and if the system has the ability to adapt to this change then it runs through gradual phases of transformation and feedback.

How is the code going to be distributed on the model?

Is the system described all that is needed to create a coherent whole where complex systems arise out of simple interactions between the components?

Would these temporary forms grow to build a living architecture?

How would the models know their boundaries and would they decide for themselves how to fill the volume that I specify for them?

Is division and differentiation essential in order for the model to capture the richness of biological life?