DNA Computers

BY:
K. SWAPNA
Conception

 Moore’s Law states that silicon

microprocessors double in complexity
roughly every two years.
 One day this will no longer hold true
when miniaturisation limits are
reached. Intel scientists say it will
happen in about the year 2018.
 Require a successor to silicon.
Current Problems

 In the words of Dr. Leonard Adleman,

“we simply cannot, at this time, control
molecules with the deftness that
electrical engineers and physicists
control electrons”.
 Use of ‘biochips’ in human bodies
may generate opposition from
technophobes.
Specifications

 One pound of DNA has the capability

to store more information than all the
electronic computers ever built.
 One cm3 of DNA can hold
approximately 10 terabytes of data
 DNA computer the size of a teardrop
would be more powerful than the
worlds most powerful supercomputer
Evolution of the DNA
computer (1)
 Began in 1994 when Dr. Leonard
Adleman wrote the paper “Molecular
computation of solutions to
combinatorial problems”.
 He then carried out this experiment
successfully – although it took him
days to do so!
Evolution of the DNA
computer (2)
 DNA computers moved from test
tubes onto gold plates.
Evolution of the DNA
computer (3)
 First practical DNA computer unveiled
in 2002. Used in gene analysis.
Evolution of the DNA
computer (4)
 Self-powered DNA computer unveiled
in 2003.
 First programmable autonomous
computing machine in which the input,
output, software and hardware were
all made of DNA molecules.
 Can perform a billion operations per
second with 99.8% accuracy.
Evolution of the DNA
computer (5)
 Biological computer developed that
could be used to fight cancers.
 ‘Designer DNA’ identifies abnormal
and is attracted to it.
 The Designer molecule then releases
chemicals to inhibit its growth or even
kill the malignant cells.
 Successfully tested on animals.
Advantages of DNA
computers
 There is always a plentiful supply of it.
 Since there is a plentiful supply, it is a
cheap resource.
 DNA biochips can be made cleanly,
unlike the toxic materials used to
make traditional microprocessors.
 DNA computers can be made many
times smaller than today's computers.
Advantages of DNA
Computers (2)
 DNA computers are massively parallel
in their computation.
 Excellent for NP problems such as the
Knight problem and the Travelling
Salesman problem.
 Solutions that would otherwise take
months to compute could be found in
hours.
Current problems with the
DNA computer
 DNA computers are not completely
accurate at this moment in time.
 During an operation, there is a 95% chance
a particular DNA molecule will ‘compute’
correctly. Would cause a problem with a
large amount of operations.
 DNA has a half-life.
 Solutions could dissolve away before the
end result is found.
Environment compatibility
(1)
 DNA computer must aim to be
compatible with seven environments
to succeed.
• Intrapsychic – Already complies since it
has been conceptualised!
• Construction/manufacture – This will be
answered in time.
• Adoption – Should inherit customer base
of silicon computers.
Environment compatibility
(2)
 Continued…
• Use – Already seen the potential for this.
• Failure – Inherits this from silicon
microprocessors.
• Scrapping – Cleaner to dispose of than
current microprocessors.
• Political/ecological – Could face
opposition from technophobes.
Conclusion

 DNA computers showing enormous

potential, especially for medical
purposes as well as data processing
applications.
 Still a lot of work and resources
required to develop it into a fully
fledged product.