Network cloning using DNA barcodes

TL;DR

This paper introduces a DNA barcode-based method for copying neural network connectivity into new networks, demonstrating that a specific rule enables fast, reliable, and scalable replication of connections.

Contribution

It proposes a novel DNA barcode-based strategy for cloning neural network connectivity, with a theoretical framework and convergence analysis.

Findings

OMOC rule ensures reliable connectivity formation

Convergence time scales as a power law of network size

Connectivity copying is theoretically feasible

Abstract

The ability to measure or manipulate network connectivity is the main challenge in the field of connectomics. Recently, a set of approaches has been developed that takes advantage of next generation DNA sequencing to scan connections between neurons into a set of DNA barcodes. Individual DNA sequences called markers represent single neurons, while pairs of markers, called barcodes contain information about connections. Here we propose a strategy for 'copying' or 'cloning' connectivity contained in barcodes into a clean slate tabula rasa network. We show that a one marker one cell (OMOC) rule, which forces all markers with the same sequence to condense into the same neuron, leads to fast and reliable formation of desired connectivity in a new network. We show that OMOC rule yields convergence in a number of steps given by a power law function of the network size. We thus propose that copying network connectivity from one network to another is theoretically possible.