In August 2025, researchers from ELSI, Arizona State University, and the Santa Fe Institute will convene conference titled ‘Assembly Theory for Folded Matter.’ Organised as a working group, the event will bring together protein biochemists, physicists, and computer scientists to explore how large biological polymers like proteins and RNA are constructed from reusable building blocks.

 

 

Diverse protein architectures can be built up around shared structure motifs. The shared structure motifs are shown in color and the surrounding protein is shown in grey. The red sphere is a conserved water molecule that stabilizes the motif. Credit: Liam M. Longo

 
The group will apply ‘Assembly Theory’, a framework developed to describe how complex structures emerge through reuse, to the problem of biomolecular composition. Participants will investigate how motifs are arranged and reused to create the functional complexity observed in nature—much like how musical themes are sampled, reshaped, and remixed.

 

Leveraging recent advances in machine learning, the working group aims to uncover the “grammar” behind molecular structures, revealing deeper insights into evolution, molecular design, and the origins of biological novelty.

 

Dates: 18-21 August 2025

Location: Collins Conference Room, Santa Fe Institute, New Mexico, USA

Organizers: Eric Smith (ELSI, SFI), Liam M. Longo (ELSI), Harrison Smith (ELSI), and Cole Mathis (ASU)

Participation: By invitation only.
 
The organisers are grateful to Insight Venture Partners for their support. More information: https://www.santafe.edu/events/assembly-theory-for-folded-matter