In Molecular Biology many optimization algorithms are applied. Examples are the folding of proteins, the design of drugs, or the storage of information in neural networks.

In this research group, we are investigating secundary structures of RNA. We want to characterize the properties of simple models of these structures. Furthermore, we are studying the statistics of protein- and DNA sequences. Our aim is to estimate better the significance of database queries (see picture above).

Very often priciples of biology are used to design optimization algorithms, like in the case of genetic algorithms. We apply this technique to calculate ground states of spin glasses.