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Researchers Build Logic Gates With RNA
Ars Technica reports on research out of Cal Tech where scientists were able to create logic gates out of RNA molecules. Thus far, they've demonstrated AND gates and OR gates, with work proceeding on more complicated systems. The work shows promise for ability to easily detect the presence of particular chemicals. The abstract from the scientists' paper is available at Science. Quoting Ars:
"Detecting tetracycline isn't especially interesting, but RNA that binds to specific small molecules is actually relatively easy to make; repeated rounds of amplification and selection for binding can evolve these RNAs in a couple of days. This means that, in a matter of days, researchers can grow yeast colonies that glow in response to a variety of chemicals, or even to combinations of chemicals. More complicated circuits should be possible if the ribozymes are inserted into messenger RNAs that encode transcription factors, which could, in turn, regulate genes that encode yet other ribozymes."
But how long before it runs Linux?
Perhaps the results of this research can be used to create biological instances of the satisfiability problem.
If satisfiability can be reduced to DNA transcription in polynomial time, then we could genetically engineer colonies of randomly poisoned cats in boxes to solve NP-complete problems.
There are no karma whores, only moderation johns
> My last comment is obviously wrong.
> But my original meaning still stands.
1.post theory and proof
2.retract proof and state that the theory is still valid.
Interesting concept you have there...