DNA Computer

[Acriku]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/...NAcomputer.html

Israeli scientists have devised a computer that can perform 330 trillion operations per second, more than 100,000 times the speed of the fastest PC. The secret: It runs on DNA.

A year ago, researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, unveiled a programmable molecular computing machine composed of enzymes and DNA molecules instead of silicon microchips. Now the team has gone one step further. In the new device, the single DNA molecule that provides the computer with the input data also provides all the necessary fuel.

The design is considered a giant step in DNA computing. The Guinness World Records last week recognized the computer as "the smallest biological computing device" ever constructed. DNA computing is in its infancy, and its implications are only beginning to be explored. But it could transform the future of computers, especially in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.

Following Mother Nature's Lead

Biochemical "nanocomputers" already exist in nature; they are manifest in all living things. But they're largely uncontrollable by humans. We cannot, for example, program a tree to calculate the digits of pi. The idea of using DNA to store and process information took off in 1994 when a California scientist first used DNA in a test tube to solve a simple mathematical problem.

Since then, several research groups have proposed designs for DNA computers, but those attempts have relied on an energetic molecule called ATP for fuel. "This re-designed device uses its DNA input as its source of fuel," said Ehud Shapiro, who led the Israeli research team.

Think of DNA as software, and enzymes as hardware. Put them together in a test tube. The way in which these molecules undergo chemical reactions with each other allows simple operations to be performed as a byproduct of the reactions. The scientists tell the devices what to do by controlling the composition of the DNA software molecules. It's a completely different approach to pushing electrons around a dry circuit in a conventional computer.

To the naked eye, the DNA computer looks like clear water solution in a test tube. There is no mechanical device. A trillion bio-molecular devices could fit into a single drop of water. Instead of showing up on a computer screen, results are analyzed using a technique that allows scientists to see the length of the DNA output molecule.

"Once the input, software, and hardware molecules are mixed in a solution it operates to completion without intervention," said David Hawksett, the science judge at Guinness World Records. "If you want to present the output to the naked eye, human manipulation is needed."

Don't Run to the PC Store Just Yet

As of now, the DNA computer can only perform rudimentary functions, and it has no practical applications. "Our computer is programmable, but it's not universal," said Shapiro. "There are computing tasks it inherently can't do."

The device can check whether a list of zeros and ones has an even number of ones. The computer cannot count how many ones are in a list, since it has a finite memory and the number of ones might exceed its memory size. Also, it can only answer yes or no to a question. It can't, for example, correct a misspelled word.

In terms of speed and size, however, DNA computers surpass conventional computers. While scientists say silicon chips cannot be scaled down much further, the DNA molecule found in the nucleus of all cells can hold more information in a cubic centimeter than a trillion music CDs. A spoonful of Shapiro's "computer soup" contains 15,000 trillion computers. And its energy-efficiency is more than a million times that of a PC.

While a desktop PC is designed to perform one calculation very fast, DNA strands produce billions of potential answers simultaneously. This makes the DNA computer suitable for solving "fuzzy logic" problems that have many possible solutions rather than the either/or logic of binary computers. In the future, some speculate, there may be hybrid machines that use traditional silicon for normal processing tasks but have DNA co-processors that can take over specific tasks they would be more suitable for.

Doctors in a Cell

Perhaps most importantly, DNA computing devices could revolutionize the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. Some scientists predict a future where our bodies are patrolled by tiny DNA computers that monitor our well-being and release the right drugs to repair damaged or unhealthy tissue.

"Autonomous bio-molecular computers may be able to work as 'doctors in a cell,' operating inside living cells and sensing anomalies in the host," said Shapiro. "Consulting their programmed medical knowledge, the computers could respond to anomalies by synthesizing and releasing drugs."

DNA computing research is going so fast that its potential is still emerging. "This is an area of research that leaves the science fiction writers struggling to keep up," said Hawksett from the Guinness World Records.

A summary of the research conducted by scientists at the Weitzmann Institute of Science is published in today's online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

[Vanguard3000]

That's pretty wild!

I think carbon nanotubes will be more practical though, as far as "regular" computer processes go. But it is a pretty amazing thing to do, and if they can turn them into those "doctors in a cell", then that's a company I'd like to invest in. ;)

[Acriku]

It is very promising :D I can't wait till this takes into effect worldwide - you go Israel!

[Colonel_Worf]

Wow. I had no idea that was possible.

[ken124578]

I still don't understand it ???

[Chani]

That just scared the sh*t out of me, I'm afraid.

Even before I read Dune I was scared of robots and computers taking over, and if you give them human parts that's just one step too close for me.

[DjCiD]

I will sleep a lil less tonite knowing this actually exist... If this type of CPU is in infancy stage I couldn't and would't want to imagine what they will be capable of in 10 - 20 years... :- just a lil scary.

[Frodo]

i agree with you cid, where will technology bring us? all of these sci-fi books are starting to come true. ;D

[Acriku]

Guys think of the possibilities -

In terms of speed and size, however, DNA computers surpass conventional computers. While scientists say silicon chips cannot be scaled down much further, the DNA molecule found in the nucleus of all cells can hold more information in a cubic centimeter than a trillion music CDs. A spoonful of Shapiro's "computer soup" contains 15,000 trillion computers. And its energy-efficiency is more than a million times that of a PC.

Now that's power :D

[Super-ness]

OMG this is the beginning of AI!!

[Anathema]

Me thinks it's time for a Jihad against technology.

Seriously though, I could imagine a rather unpleasant future while reading this.

[Caid Ivik]

In January issue of National Geographic there was a good article about how NASA defines life. Possibly the djihad should hit more than just computers...

[Vanguard3000]

Err, remember people, that this might be biological and not so much technological, but it's still far from sentient.

[nemafakei]

Hm. Sounds rather difficult to control... I'm more confident about quantum computing.

[DjCiD]

Wow that’s odd most everyone is posting the same sort of mixed feelings for this and no ones like "Oh you don’t know what your talking about this will be a great thing for the greater of mankind blah, blah, blah..." It’s good to know we can all agree on some things at times ;) I'd hate to think of a world ran by DNA based computers...

@Nema: How would one control a DNA-PC? I agree what if during the testing phase of this technology something goes haywire?!

[Acriku]

I think this is a great step towards biomedical and biotechnological advances, what's wrong with that? Don't be afraid of the future.

[DjCiD]

*rimshot* ;D

[Caid Ivik]

I think this is a great step towards biomedical and biotechnological advances, what's wrong with that? Don't be afraid of the future.

I don't think that Einstein or Fermi thought about effects of non-controlled nuclear fragmentation... But of course, why not, everything for progress!

[ken124578]

I think this is a great step towards biomedical and biotechnological advances, what's wrong with that? Don't be afraid of the future.

Think what shall happen in the long term.

[nemafakei]

"@Nema: How would one control a DNA-PC? I agree what if during the testing phase of this technology something goes haywire?!"

Manipulating the chemistry on that sort of a level completely baffles me. I have no idea how you separate individual answers.

[TMA_1]

how do quantum computers work nema? What is it? like using transisters or other stuff on a molecular or cellular level? Never heard of it. Can ya give me any details?

[exatreide]

Not yet, we should let it advance for awhile. but if it gets to a hal or cabal state, torch that little thing. We fight each other enough we dont need to fight a AI.

even though we could kick its ass...

[TMA_1]

lol guys... we are very very very VERY far away from artificial intelligance. Also, even if it was created, it would be tested and researched for years by good scientists. I am afraid that the books and movies have tainted our minds on many scientific issues.

again, tell me about this stuff of Quantum Computers nema. Whats it all about? I am super curious now.lol