Programming Genetic Circuits Is Fundamentally Essay

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To elaborate, he used his 'transistor' to build logic circuits that program each cell's behavior. For instance, he was able to tell a cell to change color in the presence of both a specified two enzymes. Remarked Kleem (online): "Endy envisions plant-based environmental monitors, programmed tissues and even medical devices that "make Fantastic Voyage come true," (Kleem, 04.02.13).

In the first (grainy) image below, Endy's DNA "buffer gates" flash different colors according to their situation. In the image below that, we have a string of DNA -- we see the code of the a's, C's, T's and G's -- that has been programmed by synthetic biologist Eric Winfree of the California Institute of Technology --.

(Excerpted from Keim, B Computers Made Out of DNA, Slime and Other Strange Stuff

Wired. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/04/strange-computers/?pid=6598&viewall=true)

Timothy Lu, a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is taking this idea further by building cellular computers that can, for instance, program cells to automatically investigate bowels for cancer. Here DNA is transplanted to computer to help the computer achieve medical miracles (Brumfiel, 2013)

The idea of DNA in conjunction with computer can, therefore, be used in two ways: DNA can be used to revolutionize computer and computer ideas can be integrated into the DNA circuitry of the human -- or animal -- cell.

The Future of DNA Computers

The first DNA computers are likely to be used by governments for cracking secret codes, or by airlines wanting to work out better air- routes. They may also be used by neuroscientists for analyzing the brain and by scientists for unraveling medical or other mysteries. According to Lovgren (2003), in fact, there is no end to the possibilities to which the new technology could be used: bacterial cells, for example, are excellent at 'sniffing out' pathogens or chemicals, such as heavy metals.

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They could for used for elements such as this and by redesigning the circuitry of bacteria, we can produce cheap biosensors that may even monitor quality of water as well as of other things.

Endy, meanwhile, suggests that we could one day have: " living bridges or buildings constructed by the self-directed growth of their natural materials, controlled by internal biological circuits, or even tiny medical "submarines" with on-board DNA computers navigating the insides of our bodies." (Heaven 02 April 2013).

Its limitations?

DNA computers are excellent in working with mathematical problems but there are still limitations that have to be worked around. Aran Nayebi, for instance, was able to implement Strassen's matrix multiplication algorithm on a DNA computer, although he faced problems with scaling. Caltech researchers, too, were able to create a circuit made from 130 different DNA strands, which calculated the square root of digits up to 15 (Strain, 2011 )). DNA computing, however, does not contribute anything new to computability theory where problems are computationally solvable using different models of computation. But these limitations pale in contrast to the revolutionary mass of contributions that DNA computer can theoretically bring to human and general development.

Amos in the Encyclopedia Britannica, for instance, opines that:

By harnessing the power of molecules, new forms of information-processing technology are possible that are evolvable, self-replicating, self-repairing, and responsive. The possible applications of this emerging technology will have an impact on many areas, including intelligent medical diagnostics and drug delivery, tissue engineering, energy, and the environment. (DNA computing http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/941575/DNA-computing)

DNA computerization will herald a new age. There is no end to the uses that DNA biochips can be expended for.

Let's hope that it will be used ethically and wisely......

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