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Researchers Debut DNA-Powered Computer
An anonymous reader writes "Researchers at Columbia University and the University of New Mexico have built a DNA -powered computer that is unbeatable at Tic-Tac-Toe. Although it's much slower than a normal computer, the researchers say their proof-of-concept system could help them develop new techniques for sorting and analyzing viruses and DNA mutations."
unbeatable at Tic-Tac-Toe This is un-fucking-believable.
When it is unbeatable at chess, I'll be impressed.
Help me get a new laptop - http://nocreditcard.yourgiftsfree.com/?id=3012
I thought most Tic-Tac-Toe games end in a tie.
Wha? Nobody is unbeatable at tic tac toe. A ferret can give you a cat's game.
If the best that my DNA can do is an unbeatable game of Tic-Tac-Toe.
The only way to win, is not to play the game. -WOPR
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
The real question is if it can be tied, or does it a DNA BSOD. Or like other things with DNA cheat, change one of the X's to O's or Vice Versa so it can win.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Except that it sounds scary as hell.
Lets keep the doomsday movie-references coming, Ill start:
Wargames...
Playing with MAYA-II takes a long time," Macdonald admits. The system needs between 2 and 30 minutes to compute each move and a second machine is required to translate the fluorescent signals generated each time into a move in the game.
No wonder it wins, it bores you to death by taking so long and hopes you fall asleep or quit.
I mod down so you can mod up. Your welcome.
Is it just me, or does the title seem.. misleading? Powered by DNA? It's not really feeding on people's genomes in order to meet its energy requirements. :[
someone play with me
X|_|_
_|_|_
_|_|_
This thing might get more viruses than Windows.
...a kick ass game of life, even if it runs Doom III at .0000000000000000000002378 FPS.
(Hey don't complain, blame my DNA computer)
liqbase
Can anyone comment on how this is related (if at all) to a recent announcement in New Zealand about a new ability to "store and execute computer programmes within a microscopic DNA Pharmaceutical crystal"? [1] [2]. Supposedly (according to radio reports) the New Zealand group has been working for 20 years in secret (or something) until the press release in the past day or so.
I'm wondering if it's a case of one group having announced in a rush so as not to be overshadowed by another group that's been working on the same thing.
When it comes to pastry theft, I take the cake.
Next, they'll probably want a WOW account.
It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
Most slashdotters are out of the equation, so I'll explain DNA computing for you real quick. It takes 9 months to spawn a child process and they usually outlive the parent. DNA computers use this thing called evolution which is the best fork() bomb ever created. It's all pretty fucking pointless actually.
DNA calculators?
Too bad some of us still lose at tic-tac-toe.
This is actually the first thing I *can* wait to build a Beowulf cluster from.
Artifical Intelligience is no match for natural stupidity.
Strange game. The only winning move is not to play.
How about a nice game of chess?
p.s.: I hope they don't program it with an option to play global thermonuclear war! =P
"Luck is my middle name," said Rincewind, indistinctly. "Mind you, my first name is Bad." -- Terry Pratchett
It is fairly common to refer to the CPU as powering the computer. eg "The Commodore64 was powered by the 6502". In this case it is DNA that is providing the computing power.
When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
Atleast backups will be easy. All you need is a piece of the computer and you can clone it.
Hey... an infinite RAID 1....
So what? I built a computer that's COVERED in DNA.
The future isn't here until I can type "car keys" into Google and have it say "You left them in your pants last night."
Cool.
Where future genetic-based computers such as this are really going to shine is in the solving of non-polynomial problems. A solution to the travelling salesman problem alone could save millions a year in fuel for transportation companies.
Shh.
Forgive me, but I'm not completely convinced by that achievement!
Reality is defined by the maddest person in the room
Does it run linux?
The closing statement from the flaming article: "Amos agrees that MAYA-II could help researchers.....But he warns that the DNA molecules used cannot be controlled perfectly, and could be prone to the occasional malfunction."
So this is different from Microsoft Windows in what way?
"Lack of technical competence coupled with the arrogance of power, as usual, leads to no good end."
You can teach a chicken to be unbeatable at Tic-tac-toe.
File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
...a Beowulf puddle of these.
"How to Do Nothing," kids activities, back in print!
I mean, after all, the genome map wasn't built in a day. Tic tac toe is one thing (forget the latency-- it's as bad as my mother) but what would a mass of DNA goo look like that knows how play Quake?
---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
So this computer is unbeatable at Tic-Tac-Toe. What if you clone it and have it play its clone? Then they both will be unbeatable and the universe will implode.
Thermonuclear War! I want thermonuclear WAR!
does it run linux?
You know, I think this is a really great achievement, but calling it DNA is down-right incorrect and irresponsible. It's the beginning of bio-electrical circuits, some can argue the future of computing, but it has nothing to do with DNA...
Is it twice as powerful, ten thousand times larger, and so expensive that only the five richest kings of Europe will own one?
I didn't post this because the info was so minimal - but I heard an interview with the researcher this am on Morning Report on NZ's National Radio: see this link: http://www.newswire.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?stor yid=341955&catid=35
I'm waiting to see how this unfolds. The researcher, Graemme Brown, said that one of the first applications would be a swallowable 'pill' that records info from within the human body that can then be 'downloaded' from a swab of body fluids like saliva. When asked if Bill Gates is interested or would be threatened by this new computing form, he said "No, the world at large is not yet aware of the research, although all research has been witnessed and documented by a standards organisation, and yes, Gates should feel threatened." I'm hoping that a podcast will soon be available.
Tic Tac Toe beats YOU!
Oh, for mod points...
Cat's game snarks aside, this is genuine progress. Typically, a computer game version of tic tac toe plays by comparing the current board configuration against a collection of possible conditions, and determines the move that way -- or by scanning the board for possible win-in-one-move conditions and blocking them. In the first game, an unbeatable (it always wins or ties) game results (provided the collection of possible conditions/moves is accurate), and in the second case it's possible to win by creating a win-in-one-move condition that simultaneously creates two win-in-one-move conditions.
This DNA computer, on the other hand, successfully blocks all win-in-one-move conditions without using any kind of lookup table; in other words, it "figures it out" by itself. Is this conscious logic? Not necessarily, but it is indeed logic being applied.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tic-tac-toe
There is a non-losing strategy for both the first and second player.
...because "hacker" sounds way sexier than "code drone."
make it easier to clone my hard drive?
I just have to be the smart ass here: The Commodore 64 had a 6510 processor.
I believe it uses "Xs" and "Ys" instead of "Xs" and "Os".
Yes, solving the TSP could save millions over time. But how much would it cost to undo the damage caused by cracking RSA, another non-polynomial problem?
Wow, I can't believe nobody is excited about this. This is the birth of the next evolution of computers: bio-computers. Think about it. The first computers could only place simple games as well, but now look at us. Bio-computers are closer to recreating human technology: life.
"It's lovely work," says Peter Bentley, a computer scientist linked to University College London. But he notes that a system that cannot be extended much further than playing tic-tac-toe "is merely a novelty". Stojanovic and Stefanovic are aware of this and are now focusing on developing simple decision-making solutions that can operate in vivo. Molecules could, for example, assess faults in a living cell and then either kill or repair it. source
Health Insurance Quotes
where's my tea... I guess Tic tac toe is one step up from that.
Excuse me, but please get off my Pennisetum Clandestinum, eh!
Yeah: I for one am happy to have been told that my DNA is nutritious and tastes great!
---GEC
I'm but the humble pupil, seeking to snatch the scratchbuilt pebble from the master's fully articulated hand
.. form a cleaner unplugging the thing - now all that needs to happen is a bit too thorought sanitizing. Those things will never survive a hospital environment unless it's British .
Insert
Your pet rock is a genius. The only winning move is not to play.
Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to conviction
My children are also unbeatable DNA-powered tic-tac-toe players.
It wasn't hard to make them. Kind of fun, actually.
"Amos agrees that MAYA-II could help researchers in this way. But he warns that the DNA molecules used cannot be controlled perfectly, and could be prone to the occasional malfunction."
Nuff said, so we'll attempt to use this til it completely fucks up and then go back to silcon.
DNA might work, but at 2 minutes a move a "real" computer should be able to play 3-4 games against a fast opponent or probably a couple hundred times that against another compupter. Tic tac toe isn't even a complex game. Tic Tac Toe can be calculated out to a tree with a max of 9 to the 9th power branches max. It'll have significantly less than that though. Game theorists have perfect move sets for Tic Tac Toe (from both sides of the board). Nothing new there too, and computers can be programmed with the strategies.
Have it play chess even compentantly and we'll talk.
And next time someone brags that DNA computers will take over our "primative" silcon punch him in the throat for me.
winning at tic-tac-toe is an easy algorithm (for computers, or humans to develop a system)... so one can only assume this is a "sarcastic" or "ironic" post... ?
geek boutique: fractalspin
I for one welcome our RNA Based..... HEEEY waitaminute... isn't the president DNA/RNA based?
OH GOD NO!
IT'S ALLREADY STARTED!
THE WORLD IS GOING TO END!!!! eventually.
How many petri dishes does it take to make a backup?
Interesting
Wonder if it has passed the capabilities of a mechanical computer yet.
Scientists build computer that can execute 20-line algorithm. Details at 11.
On serious note: if this computer is "much slower" than our existing silicon, then what is it that makes "DNA computers" more attractive, or have greater potential? From a Turing Machine point of view, speed is the only thing that matters.
Actually, it is stunning cunt bonus.
I for one welcome our DNA overlor.... oh, wait!
DNA has been there, done that and has the 20 node t-shirt or the Traveling Salesman Problem.
is been over 5 years since this was done and this is not that impressive. Now a decent desktop can do this, but it will take a little time since there are over 1 million possbile routes.
Hey KID! Yeah you, get the fuck off my lawn!
To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it