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Computer Made From DNA And Enzymes

develop writes "Some folks from Israel have created a computer that runs on DNA and enzymes and is supposedly 100,000 times faster then today's PCs. Information at National Geographic, Telegraph UK and United Press." According to the National Geographic story, this DNA-based computer "can perform 330 trillion operations per second, more than 100,000 times the speed of the fastest PC." However, be aware that most of this is still future tense, and what these researchers have now is just a proof-of-concept.

9 of 393 comments (clear)

  1. Ahem... by psyconaut · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It may perform 330 trillion operations per second, but it has NO PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS for that computing power. (Read the stories).

    Granted that it's interesting....but it's not much further along than quantum computing.

    Also, I'm wondering if Guinness would recognize my computer where I mix two liquid chemicals together and they change color as a computer that can switch froms 0s to 1s more-or-less instantly and on a massively parallel scale ;-)

    -psy

  2. However, be aware that most of this is still futur by sjwt · · Score: 2, Insightful


    And in news just in,
    INTEL creates a 2Tera htz pentum 5..
    how ever this is jsut proff of concept,
    dont expect to see it before 2015..

    I meen come on,
    theres been plenty of 'proof of concept'
    about DNA/emzine computers..

    its not like the proof off concept behind
    something that is though to be imposible..

    so right now, what they have is vaporeware??

    a blueprint for something they think
    'might work'
    that the 'could posibly build'??

    and hear was i thinking something had
    been done..

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  3. Meow meow meow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    I like Chicken

    I like Liver

    Meow mix, Meow mix please deliver

    Doesn't cat food sometimes look tasty? Especially the canned meat.

  4. How they measured 330 trillion calcs per second by coupland · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If you read the article you'll notice that this isn't a programmable computer. It's yet another test-tube experiment in which DNA was pre-programmed to return a pre-defined result, engaged in a chemical reaction, and then the resultant data read from the DNA at a later time. So while the experiment itself likely took many months or years, they claim that "330 trillion calculations per second" were performed because that's the duration of the chemical reaction divided by the number of bits of information that were changed. You can't ever access that data and you can't program the machine, but hell, that's how long the chemical reaction took... I'm decidedly unimpressed.

    1. Re:How they measured 330 trillion calcs per second by Kethinov · · Score: 2, Insightful

      However, they proved that using DNA and enzymes could lead to a exponentially faster computers. If a future scientific discovery allows for the on-the-spot programming of DNA that a DNA computer would need, conventional computers would instantly become obsolete.

      I understand why you're not impressed, but this just another step toward the development of serious, powerful bio technology.

      --
      You're right, I wouldn't steal a car. But if it were possible, I sure as hell would download one!
  5. Re:Human brain by UniverseIsADoughnut · · Score: 2, Insightful

    well the computer had to be taught how to do square root of 1337, if you worked at it a lot i'm sure you could do it in your head. I'm sure there are people who can.

    What you forget is all the automatic things the brain computers.

    Picture throwing a ball from atop a hill to a person below who is running and there is a wind coming from the north and some rain falling. A human can just pick up a ball and throw it to the person below and get it right on or very close. Your mind does all those computations without you even thinking. Think of all the classes you might have taken in physics to try and figure out how to do it. Even then with your very own brain which computes it automaticly you struggle to solve it and and use a calculator and all sorts of info and equations and laws we have figured out. But you brain can just do it. The simple reason is we don't think like out brain works. We don't think in it's language. If we could actully use the processing power your brain uses for automatic things we could do some impressive things. This is probably how some people are very smart and very good at intuitive guess on things. They are able to use their natural computer more effectively by some means they probably don't know.

  6. Re:A step on another path. by Cokelee · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Could this be a stepping-stone to one day being able to create simple life forms from scratch?

    Few viruses jump species, and by that I assume that the genetically altered machine wouldn't be the same as you or me.

    Of course one of the few cases of Ebola in the US came from monkeys. Then again Ebola is one helluvan exception. It's method of entry isn't even fully understood Folate gates perhaps?

  7. The Matrix by Thalias · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Lets see here a computer made with DNA and enzymes. This would be technology close to creatures. Then we give it an artificial intelligence so it can do work for free. Sounding familiar yet? If not then here is what could happen. They revolt, huge war, and we end up as batteries. And then we won't have to worry about doom III because the world which we are plugged into will be before Doom III. Wait, maybe doom III is a conspiricy, by the machines? Okay maybe not.

  8. WOW! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    "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."

    WOW - that's incredible! You know what? They should call it the "immune system!"

    What will those scientists think of next?