DNA computers: the wave of the future?
by hazel from LinuxQuestions.org on (#6QFAJ)
DNA makes a good information storage medium. It is very stable and takes up very little room. As there are four nucleotide "letters", each nucleotide position can be used to encode 2 bits. Binary information on computers has been rewritten experimentally into DNA before but until now, I hadn't heard of actual computations carried out on quasi-biological computers using DNA storage.
Now a man called Albert Keung, who works at North Carolina State U, has created a biological computer that can not only store DNA-encoded data reliably and read it back non-destructively, but also do certain kinds of computation such as simple chess and sudoku problems.
These things are carried out using transcribed RNA so that the stored DNA isn't altered or destroyed.
DNA computers use much less energy than electronic ones, so could be useful for training AI.
New Scientist (paper edition), 31st August 2024, p.10. There's an online version but sadly it's only for subscribers.
Now a man called Albert Keung, who works at North Carolina State U, has created a biological computer that can not only store DNA-encoded data reliably and read it back non-destructively, but also do certain kinds of computation such as simple chess and sudoku problems.
These things are carried out using transcribed RNA so that the stored DNA isn't altered or destroyed.
DNA computers use much less energy than electronic ones, so could be useful for training AI.
New Scientist (paper edition), 31st August 2024, p.10. There's an online version but sadly it's only for subscribers.