Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Largest DNA-Based Computational Circuit Created

Posted by timothy on from the artificial-one-that-is dept.

angry tapir writes "Researchers from the California Institute of Technology have built [abstract] what they claim is the world's largest computational circuit based on DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), using a technology that they said could easily scale to even greater complexity." Adds reader cwmike: "The researchers formed 130 different synthetic DNA strands that can be used to compose logic circuits. From this source material, they created one 74-molecule, four-bit circuit that can compute the square root of any number up to 15 and round down the resulting answer to the nearest integer. In their setup, the multi-layered strands of DNA are fashioned (see video) into biochemical logic gates that can perform the basic Boolean AND, OR and NOR operations executed by today's transistor-based computer processors."

3 of 57 comments (clear)

  1. In their dreams! by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 4, Funny

    I've been running a MUCH larger DNA-based computational circuit for YEARS now! Course, sometimes it fails me completely.

  2. A single logic gate operation takes 30-60 minutes by parallel_prankster · · Score: 3, Funny

    Thats exactly how my DNA-based computer works too :)

  3. Science: it's a tough life by Walt+Dismal · · Score: 4, Funny

    I keep telling girls at bars I'm a scientist who just wants to perform a complex calculation using DNA and then they throw a drink in my face for some reason.