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Breakthrough: Fake DNA Could Power Faster Computers

livescience.com — Chemists claim to have created the world's first DNA molecule made almost entirely of artificial parts. The finding could lead to improvements in gene therapy, futuristic nano-sized computers, and other high-tech advances, the Japanese researchers say.

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  • andjew, on 07/05/2008, -1/+6mmm sugary
  • magicjohnson, on 07/05/2008, -1/+10sounds like Transformers
  • tonaros, on 07/05/2008, -3/+20Imagine being able to store data in G, A, T, and C, instead of 0 and 1.
    • Kyrgizion, on 07/07/2008, -5/+3That is the exact reason why our DNA can hold such vast amounts of information. It isn't restricted by man-made conventions and systems. Which is also why we tend to copy nature, not the other way around.
    • boot20, on 07/07/2008, -0/+1The problem with DNA computing is that time it takes to do PCR to get any usable data. If there were a way to actually return the data efficiently, then it wouldn't be so bad.

      Not to mention that you'd need truck loads of DNA to actually provide usable storage....
  • jgambleii, on 07/06/2008, -6/+5Fake DNA would be a great name for a band.
  • damian7, on 07/06/2008, -5/+26Yes, but can it run Crysis?

    • str1fe, on 07/07/2008, -1/+12No.
    • TokenBlack, on 07/07/2008, -0/+5No, but it could probably make the game if its coded well enough. If anyone has any questions, I am an expert on Fake DNA.
    • warsongs7, on 07/07/2008, -1/+1Who gives a ***** about Crysis. By the time computers with these babies become retail they will be able to run Crysis 69.
  • deckarddigg, on 07/06/2008, -6/+6Breakthrough: Monkeys "Could" fly out of one's ass...

    How about these scientists report back with a "Breakthrough" when their fake dna DOES power faster computers?
  • adougy, on 07/06/2008, -7/+2Hrm, gene therapy?

    Cure for AIDs?
  • fpaudon, on 07/07/2008, -0/+21So if DNA will power computers in the future, would computers get cancer from being exposed to sunlight too long?
    • Scynet, on 07/07/2008, -3/+1Valid question, but I don't think it would work, cancer won't grow without cells. However, several forms of radiation would disrupt them.
      • boot20, on 07/07/2008, -0/+1Uh, no, but random mutations are an issue. The problem with DNA computing is generational data loss.
  • MaddGIJoe, on 07/07/2008, -2/+1HUAR!
  • Shaman760, on 07/07/2008, -4/+2All your DNA are belong to Us
    • newms32, on 07/07/2008, -0/+2Take that meme and jam it right back up the ***** from which it was shat out.
  • wediggit, on 07/07/2008, -0/+6Using Fake DNA and computers together, what could go wrong!
    Bladerunner v Terminator 8-|
  • amvickers, on 07/07/2008, -2/+2how does this work? Instead of just 1's and 0's is it AGCT? Can some biologist/computer science major please pipe-in.
    • RogueMountie, on 07/07/2008, -1/+1What you do, is you encode every 2 bits of data into one base pair. Then you inject it into a fertilized egg, and wait for your monster to hatch.
    • newms32, on 07/07/2008, -0/+0.
    • boot20, on 07/07/2008, -0/+1In essence, yes. AGCT bindings (AGCU for RNA) that in a simple form look something like:
      T-A C-G

      The pairings would provide data based on it's structure. The benefit is that you can parallelize complex problems. You can also "solve" some NP Complete problems by fudging some information (the prime example is the traveling salesman).

      It's a useful field of study, but PCR (the way you get the representation of the DNA) is SLLLOOOOWWW...
  • humanerror, on 07/07/2008, -0/+16This is terrible news. Just last week they told us our sexy robot girlfriends are on the way, and now it turns out we'll have to worry about getting them pregnant.

    Curse you, Japanese scientists! With one hand thou giveth, and with the other hand thou taketh away (T_T)
  • NyteStarNyne, on 07/07/2008, -1/+7Sarah Connor is not pleased.
  • FDisk, on 07/07/2008, -2/+2Japan. ***** YEA !!!
  • VSKBadCRC, on 07/07/2008, -1/+4Bioneural gel-packs.
    • Volstraav, on 07/07/2008, -0/+0apparently we're skipping that whole isolinear fad and going straight for the money
  • Aldhelm, on 07/07/2008, -7/+1Will the one made up of Black peoples DNA be slow?

    For anyone that doesn't get it it's a joke.
    • newms32, on 07/07/2008, -0/+1i don't get it

      say it again, a little slower
    • cschmitz, on 07/07/2008, -0/+1It may be a joke, but that doesn't make it funny.

      Really it just makes you sound like an *****.
  • etx313, on 07/07/2008, -2/+1I ate a huge dinner last night and COULD blow a lot of air from my ass today. I could.
  • iambiguous, on 07/07/2008, -1/+1this future is a little scarrrrry.....
  • dollar0dot02, on 07/07/2008, -2/+0DNA powers computer? Matrix, anyone?
  • greenfrogblue, on 07/07/2008, -0/+1Nanomachines... The Patriots... Metal Gear
  • uptwolait, on 07/07/2008, -0/+1Open source people design. Awesome.
  • dejanigma, on 07/07/2008, -1/+0And now i present to you.. the cheap, over the counter, effective, mass-telemarketing scam and annoyance conveyance all in one easy to program package!
  • em4393, on 07/07/2008, -0/+1I fail to see why this Fake DNA is so superior. Even if its robust chemical properties were more amenable to “futuristic nano-sized computers”, the inability to read, manipulate, and amplify it with evolutionarily conserved enzymes (polymerases, restriction enzymes, ligases) renders futile any attempt in integrating this compound into existing biological systems. It would seem that, without the proper molecular toolkit, these fabricated DNA anomalies are merely a curiosity.
    • woobyluv, on 07/07/2008, -1/+0You make it sound as if the scientists are going to jump from step 1 to 20 without going through all the other steps...

      It's a great start, but will take years to advance to a point where its adaptable enough to be applied to living organisms in the manner you suggest.
      • boot20, on 07/07/2008, -0/+1I think his point is why use the fake stuff when the real stuff is more robust and easier to get?
  • snoobies, on 07/07/2008, -0/+2The computers are made of PEOPLE! PEOPLE I TELL YOU!
  • JoeVet, on 07/07/2008, -2/+1"Chemists claim to have created the world's first DNA molecule made almost entirely of artificial parts."

    What does that even mean? What are these artificial parts and if they are not using real purines and pyrimidines how can they call it DNA? This is more science misinterpretation brought to you by inept journalist.

    • JoeVet, on 07/09/2008, -0/+1From the actual article (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130 (27), 8762–8768, 2008.) they constructed an artificial DNA using derivatives of 2-amino-3H-pyrimidin-4-one and showed it formed bonds like DNA. If those digging me down want to call those derivatives "artificial parts" then by all means go for it. The authors used the words nonnatural bases. The only reason the journalist got interested is because of one speculative sentence in the abstract which stated "The artificial DNA might be applied to a future extracellular genetic system with information storage and amplifiable abilities." How you get from artificial DNA with nonnatural nucleotides to faster computers is incomprehensible and only allowed to grab headlines because journalist are too stupid to realize when they are being taken for a ride by researchers looking for funding.
  • SilverBlade2k, on 07/07/2008, -0/+1So, instead of being able to store 1's and 0's, we can do A-Z, and everything between 0 and 1 (1.1, 1.2) etc...

    This is amazing.
  • runnernerd, on 07/08/2008, -0/+0but DNA replication is never perfect. How do you prevent information for being lost through mutation?
  •  

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