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Scientists Make Biochem "Brain" From DNA Strands

Posted by samzenpus on from the big-brain-little-brain dept.

thebchuckster writes "Scientists from the California Institute of Technology have created an artificial neural network (or a "tiny brain," in the words of the lead scientist) from DNA strands that interact with biochemical inputs. The artificial neurons of this network can take incomplete inputs, interact with each other, and come up with a complete conclusion. This is what the human brain does on a much more complex scale. It's also a principle scientists have used for computing and robotics."

3 of 63 comments (clear)

  1. headdesk* by girlintraining · · Score: 3, Funny

    The artificial neurons of this network can take incomplete inputs, interact with each other, and come up with a complete conclusion.

    So they've managed to create a republican using only a few brain cells...

    --
    #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
  2. I always wondered by Windwraith · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I always wondered if biomechanical stuff is actually better than "pure" mechanical stuff.
    Aren't the organic components less durable than inorganic ones by definition? If you had a robot (cyborg rather) whose organic brain expires, replacing the organic brain will keep the same functionality? Otherwise, will the metal/plastic parts work perfectly but the machine will remain an empty, useless shell?
    (Will patents and other tricks of "real life science" meddle on this? History dictates they will.)

    I don't know, maybe I am just a "metal purist", but I am not sure about having materials that can rot, into machines that might need to move in too-harsh enviroments or last long. I don't want such components to expire or rot because of one overheating (something a classic CPU can resist fine unless it's fire-inducing hot).

    1. Re:I always wondered by Windwraith · · Score: 2

      Damn, just thought of this after posting.
      How would damage affect the output of such a brain. Will the number 12 still be the number 12 after something external alters the layout of the bio-brain? How will a possible bacterial infection alter the metrics for that CPU, rendering the system defective or useless? (since this is organic, any change might alter the registers or precision, maybe 12-12 won't be 0 as expected). How will it fare when it starts to expire?

      With this I am not saying a scifi scenario of rampart biobots attacking humanity. I mean actual changes in actual output that can lead to crashes, wrong arithmetic or other glitches, or just rendering the software unusable.