Researchers find DNA can power computers

Simply amazing....

http://www.thedailycamera.com/bdc/science/article/0,1713,BDC_2432_2190078,00.html

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They call their creations "machines" and "devices." Really, they are nothing more than test tubes of DNA-laden water, and yet this liquid has been coaxed to crunch algorithms and spit out data.

The problems solved by DNA computers to date are rudimentary. Children could come up with the answers more quickly with a pencil and paper.

But the researchers hope to someday inject tiny computers into humans to zap viruses, fix good cells gone bad and otherwise keep us healthy.

They're also pursuing the idea that genetic material can self-replicate and grow into processors so powerful that they can handle problems too complex for silicon-based computers to solve.
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already invented that, sort of. "The Tommyknockers"

180

I thought the same thing.....human batteries.....yesh

That was my first thought.

is it's potential for data storage. A thimbleful of dna is capable of representing around 700,000,000 terabytes of information. To put that in perspective, today's current 100 gigabyte hard drives (which have one seven millionth that capacity) are currently a bit larger than a PB&J sandwich.

on edit: grammar mistake in title.

would make a powerful machine.

It's one of the hottest concepts of the day in science fiction and futurist thinking. The idea is that we can somehow engineer machines that function at the molecular level, and program them using something like tailored DNA. Theoretically, nanomachines could be programmed to recognize the difference in chemical behavior between normal cells and cancer cells, and kill the latter. Or they could interpose themselves in the gap of a broken nerve and repair the signal path.

My view is, the first ones to go into production would do simpler, cosmetic things: say, a nanomachine that would park itself in a hair follicle and manufacture a dye that it would inject into the growing hair, preventing grayness.

for some thoughtful chilling speculation. Greg Bear.

they'll develop a self-repairing, self-aware organism. Oh, wait. We've already got one. Us.

In his book "Mind Children, The Future of Robot and Human Intelligence," Hans Moravec, principal research scientist at Carnegie Mellon University,
http://www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/~hpm/
talks about "the transfer of consciousness" from humans to robotic entities and the "postbiological era," when our children, fully conscious silicon based life forms, (the Mind Children of the title,) take their rightful place in the universe. ("If duplicability is possible, is it not inevitable?" reasons one reviewer.)
http://www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/~hpm/book88/reviews/890109.NewYorker.html
The book's Preface at least is a jaw dropping must read.

Biological limitations prevent humans from going to the stars, (eg. loss of bone and marrow in weightlessness.) Our Mind Children have no such limitations. On the contrary, when they depart Earth, first to mine the asteroid belt, and using raw materials found there, design and make new robots ever more capable on a pace of continuing improvement we can scarce fathom, let alone attain, they will leave us behind and head for the stars. Each generation of robots will be much better than the last. Each generation? Ever improving? Is this the road to Godhood? I doubt Hans would say no.

This book is the one most like a roller coaster I have read in it's effect on my stomach. "Whoa!" I cry out. Hang on to your hat for sure on this plausible intellectual joy ride into the future.

i'll check him out :hi:

my hero has always been isaac asimov


japan is already building them ;->
http://ne.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/2000/11/1120asimo_d-ce.html

peace

something that will be critical in deriving simple rules for complex behavior.

coupled with AL things are certainly going to get interesting.

peace

shoot with that you don't even need organic material :evilgrin:

peace

have a personality? have behavioral tendencies or disorders? Would DNA based, self-replicating computers be alive?

If so, would they be, essentially, slaves?

Star Wars always bothered me in that regard: droids are slaves.