Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science have built a tiny computing machine in a test tube using biological molecules. The programmable computer is so small that a trillion such computers can co-exist and compute in a drop of water at room temperature. The bio-computer can perform a billion operations per second with greater than 99.8% accuracy, and requires less than a billionth of a watt of power. Though the project is not at the application stage, it may lead to future computers that can operate within the human body. “For instance, such a computer in the future could sense an abnormal biochemical change in the body and decide how to correct it by synthesizing and releasing the necessary drug,” says Prof. Tzvi Livneh, a DNA expert from the Institute\'s Department of Biological Chemistry who took part in the project.
The computer\'s input, output and software are made up of DNA molecules, while two naturally-occurring enzymes that manipulate DNA serve as hardware. The software and hardware molecules operate in harmony on the input molecule to create the output molecule, forming a simple mathematical computing machine, known as a finite automaton. The nano-computer can be programmed to perform several simple tasks by choosing different software molecules to be mixed in solution.
The computer\'s input, output and software are made up of DNA molecules, while two naturally-occurring enzymes that manipulate DNA serve as hardware. The software and hardware molecules operate in harmony on the input molecule to create the output molecule, forming a simple mathematical computing machine, known as a finite automaton. The nano-computer can be programmed to perform several simple tasks by choosing different software molecules to be mixed in solution.