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Researchers Debut DNA-Powered Computer

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the chess-and-checkers-versions-still-under-development dept.

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."

3 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. Not Really. by camperdave · · Score: 3, Informative

    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!
  2. Not Really - it was a 6510 by twms2h · · Score: 2, Informative

    I just have to be the smart ass here: The Commodore 64 had a 6510 processor.

  3. Re:So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    UH, it's not nearly even that complex. It's a completely deterministic game, and 2/3rds of the possible moves can be reduced to "mirror images" of the other 1/3rd. Google for web tic-tac-toe... you should find a guy who made the entire thing out of html frames. no cgi involved.