DNA basis for new generation of computers

Associated Press ^ | 18 August 2003

[Hal1950]

SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- It almost sounds too fantastic to be true, but a growing amount of research supports the idea that DNA, the basic building block of life, could also be the basis of a staggeringly powerful new generation of computers.

[dirtboy]

DNA, the basic building block of life, could also be the basis of a staggeringly powerful new generation of computers. If it happens, the revolution someday might be traced to the night a decade ago

I thought of that one two decades ago. Guess I had less education to overcome...

[danneskjold]

bump...

[Blueflag]

Why not use stereo isomers attached to long chain hydrocarbons?

Easier to manufacture and control. Thermo stabile.

[proxy_user]

"...could also be the basis of a staggeringly powerful new generation of computers."

Actually, it has powered staggeringly powerful computers, and has done so for millions of years.

Anything that could develop the human mind must be pretty smart.

There is a one-to-one mapping with the divine Logos. But the margin of this website is too small to contain it...

[dirtboy]

Why not use stereo isomers attached to long chain hydrocarbons? Easier to manufacture and control. Thermo stabile.

Develop methods to create a self-replicating machine with genetic material. It could repair its own DNA.

I see this mostly for memory potential.

[Tokhtamish]

Doesn't need prompting to compete ? Will to live ? Naturally mutating ? Adaptible ?

[BOBTHENAILER]

Thanks for the interesting post.

[exDemMom]

After all, a single gram of dried DNA, about the size of a half-inch sugar cube, can hold as much information as a trillion compact discs.

As one who works with DNA on a routine basis, I can attest to the fact that that is a staggering amount of DNA. I'm happy if my DNA extractions yield 1 or 2 milligrams of the stuff. True, one could probably yield that much DNA by extraction from tissues, but those would be random, heterologous molecules. I'm guessing that, for computing purposes, random molecules would be useless. Making non-random molecules... well, that quantity would be a real challenge. As would the tendencies of DNA to self-hydrolyze, depurinate, undergo tautomeric shifts... Well, the concept is interesting, but I don't see this technology replacing my PC.

[A Navy Vet]

Hybrid SkyNet

[Technocrat]

And I bet it doesn't run at 3 GHz, either...

[gcraig]

DNA computing is born

I read "The Paris Option", a book written in 2002 by Robert Ludlum before he died. The plot involved al Qaeda shutting down American electrical power grids with a stolen DNA computer. Pretty visionary.

[Maria S]

Will this computer be named HAL?

Some Bible commentator (can't remember who) predicted last year that the anti-Christ would be a human-like super computer. UH-OH

[farmfriend]

ping