The advent of sophisticated analytical tools enables the collective behaviour of networks of interacting molecules to be studied. The emerging field of systems chemistry promises to allow such networks to be designed to perform complex functions, and might even shed light on the origins of life.
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FURTHER READING
Ludlow, R. F. & Otto, S. Systems chemistry. Chem. Soc. Rev. 37, 101–108 (2008).
Vidonne, A. & Philp, D. Making molecules make themselves — the chemistry of artificial replicators. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 593–610 (2009).
Sarma, R. J. & Nitschke, J. R. Self-assembly in systems of subcomponents: Simple rules, subtle consequences. Angew. Chem. Int. Edn 47, 377–380 (2008).
Dadon, Z., Wagner, N. & Ashkenasy, G. The road to non-enzymatic molecular networks. Angew. Chem. Int. Edn 47, 6128–6136 (2008).
Eelkema, R. et al. Molecular machines: Nanomotor rotates microscale objects. Nature 440, 163 (2006).
Serreli, V., Lee, C.-F., Kay, E. R. & Leigh, D. A. A molecular information ratchet. Nature 445, 523–527 (2007).
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Nitschke, J. Molecular networks come of age. Nature 462, 736–738 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/462736a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/462736a
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