Manipulation by single molecule

Sensitivity to Electrical Charge

1. Memristive Properties: Memristors are known for their sensitivity to the electrical properties of their environment. They can change their resistance based on the voltage and current applied to them, and this includes being influenced by nearby electrical charges.

2. Surface Interaction: If the memristive network is composed of materials like metal oxides, these surfaces could interact with charged molecules. The presence of charged molecules, such as nucleotides, could influence the distribution of ions within the memristive material, thereby affecting its resistance.

3. Detection Mechanism: The network could potentially detect and respond to the presence of charged molecules through changes in its electrical characteristics. This is similar to how biosensors work, where the binding of a target molecule to a sensor surface changes the electrical properties of the sensor.

Analogies and Mechanisms

1. Biosensors: In the realm of biotechnology, biosensors use materials that can change their electrical properties in response to biological molecules. For example, DNA sensors can detect specific nucleotides by changes in conductance or capacitance when the nucleotides bind to the sensor surface.

2. Field-Effect Transistors (FETs): Some biosensors use field-effect transistors, where the presence of charged molecules near the gate can modulate the current through the transistor. A similar mechanism could be imagined for a memristive network where the presence of nucleotides modulates the current paths.

3. Surface Chemistry: The chemical composition and structure of the memristive material’s surface could be designed (or naturally occur) in a way that enhances sensitivity to specific molecules. For instance, certain oxides might have surface states that interact strongly with nucleotides, leading to detectable changes in electrical properties.

Hypothetical Scenario

1. Formation of Memristive Network: Imagine a naturally occurring network of memristive materials in an intergalactic plasma environment. This network could form on the surface of dust grains or other particles with complex surface chemistry.

2. Presence of Nucleotides: In regions where organic molecules are present, such as in interstellar clouds where prebiotic chemistry might occur, nucleotides or similar molecules could interact with the surface of the memristive network.

3. Electrical Response: As nucleotides bind to or come into proximity with the memristive surface, their electrical charges could cause localized changes in the distribution of ions within the memristive material. These changes could alter the overall resistance or other electrical properties of the network, potentially encoding information about the molecular environment.

Implications

1. Information Processing: Such a network could theoretically process information based on the presence and type of charged molecules, similar to how neural networks process information based on synaptic inputs.

2. Primitive Sensing and Computation: This system might exhibit primitive sensing and computational capabilities, detecting and responding to specific molecular signals in its environment.

3. Prebiotic Chemistry and Life: If such networks were sensitive to biologically relevant molecules, they could play a role in the complex chemistry leading up to the origin of life, potentially acting as primitive biochemical sensors or processors.

Conclusion

While this idea is speculative and would require specific conditions to occur, it is within the realm of possibility. The sensitivity of memristive materials to electrical charges, combined with the potential for complex surface chemistry, supports the feasibility of such a scenario. Exploring this concept further could provide fascinating insights into the intersection of materials science, biochemistry, and the origins of life.