Release date: 2008-06-02
In a groundbreaking development, scientists in the U.S. have harnessed genetic engineering to create a biological computer using bacteria. Researchers from institutions such as Davidson College, the University of North Carolina, and Western Missouri University successfully engineered Escherichia coli to perform computational tasks. This genetically modified organism functions as a "microbial computer," capable of solving complex mathematical problems. The study was published on the Daily Science website on May 21st.
The "pancake puzzle" is a classic algorithmic challenge that involves flipping a stack of pancakes of different sizes to arrange them in order, with the largest at the bottom and all golden sides facing up. The solver can only flip one or more consecutive pancakes at a time. The goal is to find the minimum number of flips required to achieve the correct arrangement. This problem has long been used as a benchmark in computer science for evaluating algorithms.
In this experiment, researchers replaced physical pancakes with DNA fragments. They introduced specific genes into E. coli, enabling the bacteria to perform DNA recombination and inversion. By manipulating these DNA segments, the bacteria could sort and flip them in a way that mimicked the pancake problem. To verify successful computation, the team added an antibiotic resistance gene that would only activate if the DNA was correctly ordered. This allowed them to visually confirm when the problem was solved.
Cameron Haynes, the lead researcher, highlighted the potential advantages of bio-computers over traditional ones. A single test tube can host billions of bacteria, each carrying multiple copies of DNA for computation. These bacterial computers operate in parallel, offering speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, since they are living systems, they can evolve and self-repair over time, making them highly adaptable.
This research represents a significant step forward in synthetic biology, where scientists design and engineer biological systems to perform specific tasks. Applications range from biosensing to environmental monitoring and even data storage. The success of this project not only demonstrates the feasibility of high-performance computing within living cells but also opens new possibilities in genetic manipulation and information technology.
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