Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Scientists Create Programmable Bacteria

Posted by samzenpus on from the anti-coding-soap dept.

wilmavanwyk writes "In research that further bridges the biological and digital world, scientists at the University of California, San Francisco have created bacteria that can be programmed like a computer. Researchers built 'logic gates' – the building blocks of a circuit – out of genes and put them into E. coli bacteria strains. The logic gates mimic digital processing and form the basis of computational communication between cells, according to synthetic biologist Christopher A. Voigt."

3 of 117 comments (clear)

  1. Killer app by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Finally we're gonna see a decent implementation of Conway's Game of Life!

  2. Trek becomes Reality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    In the TNG episode "The Chase", it's discovered that aliens seeded the oceans of various planets with life and placed part of a computer program into the DNA distributed on each planet. When the various races (humans, vulvans, cardassians, etc) put the code together a billion years later they find an ancient race has left us a holographic message of goodwill and peace.

    We Must do this! Except we change the message to play "Never gonna give you up", Rick Astley built right into the DNA of all living beings forevermore. Just waiting to be found in a billion years. Most epic troll ever.

  3. Re:Yes but... by Ihmhi · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does it run Linux?

    Yes, but as a side effect it causes open sores.

    --
    Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)