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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."

25 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. Holy crap by joshetc · · Score: 5, Funny

    unbeatable at Tic-Tac-Toe This is un-fucking-believable.

    1. Re:Holy crap by b100dian · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hmmm, sounds almost human like..
      Sounds will be available when it will get equiped with an DNA Adlib soundcard, okay? Years will pass...

      --
      gtkaml.org
  2. I wouldn't be bragging... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 4, Funny

    If the best that my DNA can do is an unbeatable game of Tic-Tac-Toe.

  3. Tic-Tac-Toe? by AKAImBatman · · Score: 1, Funny

    The only way to win, is not to play the game. -WOPR

  4. Re:But can it be tied. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    From TFA: "One limitation of the system is that the human player must always go second, after the centre square has been filled by the machine." Pfft... we can all be unbeatable if we have a little hissy fit about the center square...

  5. Wins by attrition by AviLazar · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.
  6. i wanna play by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    someone play with me

    X|_|_
    _|_|_
    _|_|_

    1. Re:i wanna play by SuperStretch · · Score: 1, Funny

      omg.. you guys make class so much better. You're the only thing that gets me through Tuesday and Thursday afternoons

      --
      Help me get a new laptop - http://nocreditcard.yourgiftsfree.com/?id=3012
    2. Re:i wanna play by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 2, Funny

      Quit surfing and pay attention to the lecture!

      --
      No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
  7. I don't think this is such a good idea... by The+Real+Toad+King · · Score: 3, Funny

    This thing might get more viruses than Windows.

  8. First Post!!! by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 4, Funny

    (Hey don't complain, blame my DNA computer)

    --
    liqbase :: faster than paper
  9. Midi-Chlorians... by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 3, Funny
    The Midi-Chlorians welcome their Tic-Tac-Toe playing overlords...

    Next, they'll probably want a WOW account.

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  10. DNA powered computers suck by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.

  11. Wow, a first by gadgetman · · Score: 3, Funny

    This is actually the first thing I *can* wait to build a Beowulf cluster from.

    --
    Artifical Intelligience is no match for natural stupidity.
  12. Obligatory by cHALiTO · · Score: 4, Funny

    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
  13. Re:Unbeatable at Tic Tac Toe? by demonbug · · Score: 5, Funny
    That's exactly what unbeatable means - cannot be beaten. It does not mean it can beat you.


    My pet rock is also unbeatable at Tic-Tac-Toe. She discovered the cunning (hehe, cunning stunt bonus!) strategy of never making a move. I've been forced to concede every game so far as hunger, thirst and a need to urinate ultimately win out over my drive to be the greatest Tic-Tac-Toe player on the block.

    I blame my DNA.

  14. so what? by shotgunsaint · · Score: 5, Funny

    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."
  15. Imagine... by dpbsmith · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...a Beowulf puddle of these.

  16. Re:But can it be tied. by burndive · · Score: 2, Funny

    The limitation is in place because it's harder to program in DNA than machine code.

    God is a l33t hax0r.

    --
    ...because "hacker" sounds way sexier than "code drone."
  17. Re:Unbeatable at Tic Tac Toe? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Face it, my friend, you cannot approach the wisdom your pet rock has accumulated over the ages. You could take a hammer to it, though.

    They should try to figure out how many hours of tic-tac-toe the DNA can play continuously before it gets bored. I know it takes me about 2,300. Hey Guinness, would that be a record?

  18. Do DNA Computers... by nixkuroi · · Score: 2, Funny

    make it easier to clone my hard drive?

  19. DNA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I believe it uses "Xs" and "Ys" instead of "Xs" and "Os".

  20. That means it's winning by Malakusen · · Score: 2, Funny

    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
  21. I already did this. PRIOR ART!!! by Medievalist · · Score: 2, Funny


    My children are also unbeatable DNA-powered tic-tac-toe players.

    It wasn't hard to make them. Kind of fun, actually.

  22. You got it wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    My pet rock is also unbeatable at Tic-Tac-Toe. She discovered the cunning (hehe, cunning stunt bonus!) strategy of never making a move. I've been forced to concede every game so far as hunger, thirst and a need to urinate ultimately win out over my drive to be the greatest Tic-Tac-Toe player on the block.

    Actually, it is stunning cunt bonus.