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Bacterial Computer Solves Hamiltonian Path Problem

Posted by kdawson on from the sicken-you-or-solve-your-problems dept.

Rob writes "A team of US scientists has engineered bacteria that can solve complex mathematical problems faster than anything made from silicon. The research, published today in the Journal of Biological Engineering (abstract and provisional PDF), proves that bacteria can be used to solve a puzzle known as the Hamiltonian Path Problem, a special case of the traveling salesman problem. The researchers say that this proof-of-concept experiment demonstrates that bacterial computing is a new way to address NP-complete problems using the inherent advantages of genetic systems."

15 of 135 comments (clear)

  1. Next up... by sharp3 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Foot fungus solves graph coloring!

  2. Hmm by parallel_prankster · · Score: 5, Funny

    So next time I itch it means the bacteria on my skin is trying to prove Fermat's last theorem ?

    1. Re:Hmm by laejoh · · Score: 2, Funny

      Thank $diety we're all slashdotters! The bacteria don't have to worry about skin being too narrow to contain.the truly marvellous proof!

  3. Wonderful! by Quothz · · Score: 2, Funny
    So does this mean we're gonna have to re-educate the public and explain that they really can catch an infection from a computer virus? It wasn't that long ago that we were patiently explaining why that wasn't a concern.

    Also, e. coli, really? I hope that, if this technology reaches the stage of commercial use, they've found something better. Or we're gonna hear a constant litany of people complaining that their computer is a piece of crap. It'll be worse than the "cat with a computer mouse" cartoons.* It will.

    *Which is why I'm making the joke early and beating the rush.

  4. A-choo! by flatulus · · Score: 4, Funny

    Aha!

  5. Re:Summary is overrated by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    It is a fucking special case of the fucking traveling salesman problem. Look, you fucking make a fucking edge of fucking infinite cost for any fucking edge not fucking present in the original fucking graph. Is the fucking shortest fucking tour finite? Fucking Christ on a fucking goddamn stick. Fuck!

  6. cue terminator joke in five, four, three... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The (bacterial computing) Funding Bill is passed. The (colony) goes on-line August 4th, (2017). Human decisions are removed from strategic defense. (The colony) begins to learn at a (exponential) rate. (They) become self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. In a panic, (humans) try to (feed them antibiotics.)

  7. Ebola solves..... by stox · · Score: 5, Funny

    the population problem.

    --
    "To those who are overly cautious, everything is impossible. "
  8. Re:Summary is overrated by rubycodez · · Score: 5, Funny

    the traveling salesmen I know did a lot of fucking on their routes. You must be correct.

  9. From what I hear by MLS100 · · Score: 1, Funny

    The hardware is really buggy.

    *ducks*

  10. My Computer Died by okmijnuhb · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now when you say that your computer died, you may be speaking literally...

  11. Good news for stinky nerds by Myrcutio · · Score: 2, Funny

    So all that bacteria growing on those unhygienic D&D nerds is actually helping them with pathing, i knew they were cheating somehow, i could smell it...

  12. Turing complete? by noppy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Lets hype over it when it can run Linux

  13. Re:Press Release? by shentino · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Moar protein plz!"

    -- E. Coli

  14. Re:Summary is overrated by quakehead3 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oblig