DNA computing using a difference of melting temperature among DNA fragments

We propose new encoding method for numerical data in DNA using temperature gradient. To represent numerical values in DNA sequences, we introduce melting temperature. Since DNA strands representing smaller values have a lower Tm, they tend to denature with ease and also easily amplified by denaturation temperature gradient PCR. We also implement a local search molecular algorithm using temperature gradient, which is contrasted to conventional exhaustive search molecular algorithms. The proposed methods are verified by solving an instance of the travelling salesman problem. We could effectively amplify the correct solutions and the use of temperature gradient made the detection of solutions easier.