Bacterial Computer Solves Hamiltonian Path Problem

Posted by kdawson on Saturday July 25, 2009 @05:11PM 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."

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Hmm by parallel_prankster · 2009-07-25 17:39 · Score: 5, Funny

So next time I itch it means the bacteria on my skin is trying to prove Fermat's last theorem ?
A-choo! by flatulus · 2009-07-25 17:45 · Score: 4, Funny

Aha!
Ebola solves..... by stox · 2009-07-25 17:54 · Score: 5, Funny

the population problem.

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"To those who are overly cautious, everything is impossible. "
Re:Summary is overrated by rubycodez · 2009-07-25 18:14 · Score: 5, Funny

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