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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."

7 of 135 comments (clear)

  1. 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 ?

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

    Aha!

  3. 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!

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

    the population problem.

    --
    "To those who are overly cautious, everything is impossible. "
  5. 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.

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

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

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

    Oblig