DNA-based logic gate will soon give rise to injectable bio-computers

Less than a decade ago what appears to be a concept is now a technology under development. In 1994, Leonard Adleman, a computer scientist at the University of California, introduced the idea of using DNA to solve complex mathematical problems. Adleman who is often called as the inventor of DNA computer concluded that DNA had computational potential after reading the book of DNA discoverer, James Watson, entitled ,”Molecular Biology of the Gene”.

A team of researchers at Hebrew University had made for the first time a DNA-based logic gates that could lead to tiny injectable bio-computers capable of making simple calculations inside the body. The DNA-based logic gate is formed from a short stand of DNA and their complements.

The logic gates mimic their electronic counterparts by representing one of (0)zeros and (1) ones of binary code. In tests conducted, they modeled a DNA version of an XOR logic gate that produces an accurate output when two inputs are present, and no output when both or neither is present. The DNA logic gate fluoresced when one of two inputs was present, and stopped fluorescing when both inputs were present.

DNA-based logic gates is now under study. scientists strongly believe that DNA-based logic gates could be someday used to engineer complex injectable computers that could monitor vital signs and treat diseases.

There are already computers run on a single iodine molecule and transistorstaht made of just a handful of atoms, so it it also possible to create computer components that can be made of tiny strands of DNA.

DNA-based logic gates and biochips still have to take years to develop into a practical, workable DNA computer. If such a computer is ever built, scientists say that it will be more compact, accurate and efficient than conventional computers.