Advancements in biological and molecular computing

Researchers are making progress in developing computing systems that utilize biological and molecular structures rather than traditional silicon-based hardware.

In Ireland, scientists at the University of Nottoway and Maynooth University have developed a ‘Scaffolded DNA Computer’ (SDC). This system uses long DNA strands as a primary structure and shorter strands as programmable components to perform mathematical operations such as addition, multiplication, and division. Operating in a droplet of saltwater through thermodynamic equilibrium, the device requires minimal heat and constant electricity to function.

Additionally, researchers at the University of Bristol have experimented with biohybrid computing using miniature human brain organoids. By stimulating these three-dimensional structures with electrical impulses, scientists achieved a 61 percent accuracy rate in recognizing Braille characters with a single organoid, which increased to 83 percent when three organoids were combined. This research explores the potential for integrating biological neural networks with electronic systems to create energy-efficient computers.