Researchers Created Reprogrammable Molecular Algorithms For DNA Computers

dmoberhaus writes: In a major breakthrough for DNA computing, researchers from UC Davis, Caltech and Maynooth University developed a technique for creating molecular algorithms that can be reprogrammed. Prior to this research, molecular algorithms had to be painstakingly designed for specific purposes, which is "like having to build a new computer out of new hardware just to run a new piece of software," according to the researchers. This new technique could blow open the door for a host of futuristic DNA computing applications -- nanofactories, light-based computers, etc. -- that would've been impossible before. The paper was published this week in Nature.

Am I the only one

[Anonymous Coward]

who can't click the link?

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1014-9

Re:

[mad7777]

That "a" tag contains no href, so it's kinda normal that it does nothing. Anyway, thanks for finding the article.

I'm pretty sure this already works

[Goldsmith]

I think the folks in Computer Science may want to talk with the biologists about what function DNA plays in nature. I'm pretty sure cells are already using DNA to perform some pretty complex and reprogrammable calculations. Just because they're done in the format you're used to doesn't mean it's not happening.

This is a huge!

[Gravis Zero]

I actually took a look at what they've did and it's a significant development. I think the best way to explain it is that they developed a set of basic building blocks that can be slapped together. It's basically the difference between building logic circuits using standard set of analog components and using various refined metals: either way it's possible but one is far easier than the other.

In this case they have developed DNA "tiles" which are an arrangement of 42 biological nucleobases (G, A, T and C)