1. A programmable finite biomolecular automaton for performing a computation, comprising: (a) a polymeric biomolecule as input to the automaton, such that the automaton is programmable according to a selection of said polymeric biomolecule; and (b) a plurality of biomolecule-manipulating components for manipulating said biomolecule to form an output biomolecule, wherein at least one manipulation is autonomously performed to perform the computation such that said output biomolecule comprises a result of the computation.