Computer Made from DNA and Enzymes...

[jamesclarke555]

Israeli scientists have devised a computer that can perform 330 trillion operations per second, more than 100,000 times the speed of the fastest PC.

The secret: It runs on DNA

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...Acomputer.html

[Steve H]

Your avatar is somewhat scaring me at this point

[Tezcatlipoca]

A new molecular computer? Cool

Very interesting subject, this.

Originally Posted by Tezcatlipoca

A new molecular computer? Cool

Very interesting subject, this.

could they make one into a cell phone?

- but yes, it is an interesting subject, a look in your profile gives a clue to why you would find it especially so

The thing I find hard to get my 'head round', is the scale. The concept of being able to manipulate things in a precise way at molecular sizes is awesome enough, the idea so much 'computing power' can exist in such a small space is mind boggling.

I thought they glossed over how the 'output' was read, though, I guess it's going to be a while before someone puts a 'human interface' on that

[MadGamer]

You'd never have to use msconfig for that or defrag

[Tezcatlipoca]

Originally Posted by homealone

could they make one into a cell phone?

- but yes, it is an interesting subject, a look in your profile gives a clue to why you would find it especially so

The thing I find hard to get my 'head round', is the scale. The concept of being able to manipulate things in a precise way at molecular sizes is awesome enough, the idea so much 'computing power' can exist in such a small space is mind boggling.

I thought they glossed over how the 'output' was read, though, I guess it's going to be a while before someone puts a 'human interface' on that

Yeah, I find the whole idea fascinating


LOL, it still has a long way to go, though!

And the output is certainly quite simple at the moment (as befits a "test-tube" computer, I guess!)

Instead of showing up on a computer screen, results are analyzed using a technique that allows scientists to see the length of the DNA output molecule.

Seeing as there are limits to using silicon, I suppose we will eventually need something like this (hence also the big interest by people in trying to make optical & quantum computers too).


Think of the power of a "proper" molecular computer...

[punky]

Thank god for that. We're going to need something that fast to run the UnrealEngine3

[dilli-theclaw]

Why did I see this and think that it will make viruses easier to write - MMMmmm

Originally Posted by dilligaf1701

Why did I see this and think that it will make viruses easier to write - MMMmmm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3268259.stm