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Bacteria Made to Behave as Computers
hende_jman writes "Scientists at Princeton University successfully 'programmed bacteria to behave like computers, assembling themselves into complex shapes based on instructions stuffed into their genes.' Though applications may not come for awhile, the article says that in the future this technology may be used in devices to detect bioterrorism chemicals. The article also has pictures of the programmed E. coli."
Bacteria.NET Sharp
Take the Dragon Survey
A Beow ... nevermind .. screw it..
.. The bacter... laaaaame
.. nevermind
I for one wel... naw, screw it
In Soviet Russia
the GN... err
Hmmm..
= Grow a brain...
It's amazing how you can control an organism's behavoir by altering it's DNA.
*yawn* Welp, time to go look at pictures of naked girls.
I can only imagine what wonderful ideas Micro$oft is coming up with right now... Imagine your 'computer' crashing and growing all over your house.
Well, someone yesterday made a comment about when they were in school, they were exhorted to list in their papers any military applications the technology might have in order to ensure securing additional research funding, etc. That was the first thing I thought of when I read "...this technology may be used in devices to detect bioterrorism chemicals."
Sounds we'll be seeing a lot of technology with terrorism-fighting potential for a while to come.
All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself. - Johann Sebastian Bach
a betterpictureof bacteria assembling themselves into complex shapes based on instructions stuffed into their genes
serenity now!
Perhaps the first program will be a cellular Autonoma simmulation. They could program it to play the game of Life.
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
Here's the flaw with that simple idea:
Viruses are simply encapsulated DNA with simple crap - they don't manufacture anything. Instead they use other cells to manufacture more of themselves. So a Virus for a Virus would mean for every bad virus in your system, you would need one anti manufactured. Anyevent, now if u had engineered bacteria that i guess would be the equivilant of a "honeypot" in that a viral latches on, but the engineered bacteria destroys incomming DNA etc. But then that would mean the bacteria would be very resistant to various forms of genetic therapy. Just imagine what would happen if the bacteria grew out of control (they need a food source), or mutated into something rlly bad. Do i need to elaborate?
Anyways, im more worried about new bacteria that is now resistant to antibacterial soap and such. Many of those strains are friggen hard to kill. Granted i could imagine engineering bacteria to kill this.
I know im just rambling on here, so lemme just sum up what would probably needed to be done to help ensure this new disease fighting bacteria doesn't become our worse nightmare:
Engineered life cycle, ie a counter for how many times the bacteria can reproduce
Possible activating agent? Have these bacteria only work if a certain protein is present, etc
Deactivating agent - simply again, something innate that can be introduced into the blood stream that would cause the bacteria to dismantle itself.
The odds of the bacteria mutating such that the life cycle and the deactivating agent is ignored before the life cycle is expired would hopefully be enough. Then also consider your body's natural immune system,
I have no clue how long it would be before bioengineers can do all this, but it is most exiciting