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World's First Game-Playing DNA Computer

Posted by simoniker on from the why's-the-enzyme-always-allowed-to-go-first? dept.

An anonymous reader writes "NewScientist.com posted an article today about the first game-playing 'computer' powered by DNA logic. An interesting read, although not at all a practical alternative for those looking to replace their PlayStation2 with the next great platform." The machine is "...an enzyme-powered tic-tac-toe machine that... uses a complex mixture of DNA enzymes to determine where it should place its nought or cross, and signals its move with a green glow."

5 of 166 comments (clear)

  1. Very significant development by heironymouscoward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Game playing comes second only to porn as the driver of new technologies.

    More seriously, this is a good time to look at how to model DNA computers on "normal" computers so that we can start abstracting the tools and techniques needed to design (breed?) the really complex patterns we'll need to exploit DNA technology.

    Good stuff - in 20 years this may seem like the only way to compute, with silicon being as quaint as valve transistors.

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  2. Re:Game Playing DNA? by Phekko · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can guarantee your DNA'll lose eventually, though ;)

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  3. Re: Natural step by CyberDruid · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Game playing comes second only to porn as the driver of new technologies.

    And since DNA is already involved in porn and sex in so many ways, this was basically the logical continuation. As long as I'm not DNA-spammed by malevolent viruses, I'm happy.

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  4. Re:Silly Human! by Ominous+Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Whenever testing something, you should test not just expected responses, but also the unexpected. Perhaps he lost so many times because he wanted to see MAYA capitalize on human errors, and make sure that it would win?

    Who cares if the machine will always play to a tie, if it can't convert a win from a stupid human mistake?

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  5. Re:Smart enough to make a DNA computer but not to. by imnoteddy · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Play tic-tac-toe? "Stojanovic has lost to MAYA more than a 100 times." With semi-intelligent players I thought this game was pretty much guaranteed to generate a draw?

    I imagine he lost in order to test the system.

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