Analog DNA Calculator Does Math While In A Test Tube

Hi-Tech Silvia Meyer
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DNA circuits aren’t new, they’ve been around for some time and are designed to solve issues like computing square roots and playing games like tic tac toe. But no matter what they’ve been used for, DNA circuits have always been digital because their output is decoded into the binary.

Generally described as the pattern of life, DNA contains the directions for making every living thing from a person to tiny ant. But in recent decades, some researchers have been researching alternative uses of the genetic code: making miniature nanoscale computers.

A team headed by Professor John Reif at Duke University, created strands of artificial DNA in a fresh new study. These researchers made a nanoscale computer that utilizes artificial DNA and is analog. The artificial DNA when placed in a test tube in the appropriate amounts, will turn to an analog circuit calculator that is capable of adding, subtracting and multiplying while forming and breaking bonds.

The new Duke apparatus performs computations in an analog manner by quantifying the changing concentrations of particular DNA molecules without needing special circuitry to convert them to zeroes and one’s first.

This process is slow and is being done with only a few readily replicated strands. Imitations of digital computers include a lot more molecular machines — which also happens to be exceptionally delicate. Analog DNA computing could be done within the body’s natural surroundings since it could be carefully coded to prevent any interference with the strands by the standard genetic procedures.

DNA calculators swimming in your bloodstream can compute the amounts of a drug, activate a protein when it dips below a particular amount and so much more.

DNA calculators swimming in your bloodstream can compute the amounts of a drug, activate a protein when it dips below a particular amount and so much more. Strands attached to specific molecule could also start a procedure that alerts physicians, or even kick starts the body’s own immune system.