DNA COMPUTING

BY

U.SAIKRISHNA

B.VENKATESH

NALLA MALLA REDDY ENGINEERING COLLEGE

DNA computing is a form of computing which uses DNA,biochemistry  and molecular

DNA computing also offers much lower power consumption than traditional silicon computers.
DNA uses adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as fuel to allow ligation or as a means to heat the strand
to cause disassociation.Both strand hybridization and the hydrolysis of the DNA backbone can
occur spontaneously, powered by the potential energy stored in DNA.

Consumption of two ATP molecules releases 1.5 x 10−19 J. But DNA

with the size of the problem (EXPSPACE problems) on von Neumann machines, it still grows
exponentially with the size of the problem on DNA machines.

 
What is DNA Computing? DNA Computing Technology
A nanocomputer that uses DNA DNA computers can't be found at your local
(deoxyribonucleic acids) to store electronics store yet. The technology is still
information and perform complex in development, and didn't even exist as a
calculations. concept a decade ago. In 1994, Leonard
Introduction to How DNA Adleman introduced the idea of using DNA
Computers Will Work to solve complex mathematical problems.
Even as you read this article, computer chip Adleman, a computer scientist at the
manufacturers are furiously racing to make University of Southern California, came to
the next microprocessor that will topple the conclusion that DNA had computational
speed records. Sooner or later, though, this potential after reading the book "Molecular
competition is bound to hit a wall. Biology of the Gene," written by James
Microprocessors made of silicon will Watson, who co-discovered the structure of
eventually reach their limits of speed and DNA in 1953. In fact, DNA is very similar to a
miniaturization. Chip makers need a new computer hard drive in how it stores
material to produce faster computing permanent information about your genes.
speeds.
You won't believe where scientists have Adleman is often called the inventor of DNA
found the new material they need to build computers. His article in a 1994 issue of the
the next generation of microprocessors. journal Science outlined how to use DNA to
Millions of natural supercomputers exist solve a well-known mathematical problem,
inside living organisms, including your body. called the directed Hamilton Path problem,
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) molecules, the also known as the "traveling salesman"
material our genes are made of, have the problem.
potential to perform calculations many
times faster than the world's most powerful
human-built computers. DNA might one day The goal of the problem is to find the
be integrated into a computer chip to shortest route between a number of cities,
create a so-called biochip that will push going through each city only once. As you
computers even faster. DNA molecules have add more cities to the problem, the
already been harnessed to perform problem becomes more difficult. Adleman
complex mathematical problems. chose to find the shortest route between
seven cities.
While still in their infancy, DNA computers
will be capable of storing billions of times You could probably draw this problem out
more data than your personal computer. In on paper and come to a solution faster than
this article, you'll learn how scientists are Adleman did using his DNA test-tube
using genetic material to create nano- computer. Here are the steps taken in the
computers that might take the place of Adleman DNA computer experiment:
silicon-based computers in the next decade.
Strands of DNA represent the seven cities.
In genes, genetic coding is represented by
the letters A, T, C and G. Some sequence of The Rochester team's DNA logic gates are
these four letters represented each city and the first step toward creating a computer
possible flight path. that has a structure similar to that of an
These molecules are then mixed in a test electronic PC. Instead of using electrical
tube, with some of these DNA strands signals to perform logical operations, these
sticking together. A chain of these strands DNA logic gates rely on DNA code.
represents a possible answer. They detect fragments of genetic material
Within a few seconds, all of the possible as input, splice together these fragments
combinations of DNA strands, which and form a single output. For instance, a
represent answers, are created in the test genetic gate called the "And gate" links two
tube. DNA inputs by chemically binding them so
Adleman eliminates the wrong molecules they're locked in an end-to-end structure,
through chemical reactions, which leaves similar to the way two Legos might be
behind only the flight paths that connect all fastened by a third Lego between them. The
seven cities. researchers believe that these logic gates
The success of the Adleman DNA computer might be combined with DNA microchips to
proves that DNA can be used to calculate create a breakthrough in DNA computing.
complex mathematical problems. However,
this early DNA computer is far from DNA computer components -- logic gates
challenging silicon-based computers in and biochips -- will take years to develop
terms of speed. into a practical, workable DNA computer. If
The Adleman DNA computer created a such a computer is ever built, scientists say
group of possible answers very quickly, but that it will be more compact, accurate and
it took days for Adleman to narrow down efficient than conventional computers. In
the possibilities. Another drawback of his the next section, we'll look at how DNA
DNA computer is that it requires human computers could surpass their silicon-based
assistance. The goal of the DNA computing predecessors, and what tasks these
field is to create a device that can work computers would perform.
independent of human involvement. Silicon vs. DNA Microprocessors
Silicon microprocessors have been the heart
Three years after Adleman's experiment, of the computing world for more than 40
researchers at the University of Rochester years. In that time, manufacturers have
developed logic gates made of DNA. Logic crammed more and more electronic devices
gates are a vital part of how your computer onto their microprocessors. In accordance
carries out functions that you command it with Moore's Law, the number of electronic
to do. These gates convert binary code devices put on a microprocessor has
moving through the computer into a series doubled every 18 months.
of signals that the computer uses to Moore's Law is named after Intel founder
perform operations. Currently, logic gates Gordon Moore, who predicted in 1965 that
interpret input signals from silicon microprocessors would double in
transistors, and convert those signals into complexity every two years. Many have
an output signal that allows the computer predicted that Moore's Law will soon reach
to perform complex functions. its end, because of the physical speed and
miniaturization limitations of silicon electrical computers hundreds of years to
microprocessors. complete them
conception
DNA computers have the potential to take
computing to new levels, picking up where
Moore's Law leaves off. There are several The first DNA computers are unlikely to
advantages to using DNA instead of silicon: feature word processing, e-mailing and
solitaire programs. Instead, their powerful
As long as there are cellular organisms, computing power will be used by national
there will always be a supply of DNA. governments for cracking secret codes, or
The large supply of DNA makes it a cheap by airlines wanting to map more efficient
resource. routes. Studying DNA computers may also
Unlike the toxic materials used to make lead us to a better understanding of a more
traditional microprocessors, DNA biochips complex computer -- the human brain.
can be made cleanly. Specifications
DNA computers are many times smaller One pound of DNA has the capability to
than today's computers. store more information than all the
DNA's key advantage is that it will make electronic computers ever built.
computers smaller than any computer that One cm3 of DNA can hold approximately 10
has come before them, while at the same terabytes of data
time holding more data. One pound of DNA DNA computer the size of a teardrop would
has the capacity to store more information be more powerful than the worlds most
than all the electronic computers ever powerful supercomputer
built; and the computing power of a Environment compatibility
teardrop-sized DNA computer, using the DNA computer must aim to be
DNA logic gates, will be more powerful than compatible with seven environments to
the world's most powerful supercomputer. succeed.
More than 10 trillion DNA molecules can fit Intrapsychic – Already complies since it has
into an area no larger than 1 cubic been conceptualised!
centimeter (0.06 cubic inches). Construction/manufacture – This will be
With this small amount of DNA, a computer answered in time.
would be able to hold 10 terabytes of data, Adoption – Should inherit customer base of
and perform 10 trillion calculations at a
time. By adding more DNA, more silicon computers.
calculations could be performed. Use – Already seen the potential for this.
Failure – Inherits this from silicon
Unlike conventional computers, DNA microprocessors.
computers perform calculations parallel to Scrapping – Cleaner to dispose of than
other calculations. Conventional computers current microprocessors.
operate linearly, taking on tasks one at a Political/ecological – Could face opposition
time. It is parallel computing that allows from technophobes.
DNA to solve complex mathematical
problems in hours, whereas it might take
Advantages of DNA computers Excellent for NP problems such as the
1.There is always a plentiful supply of it. Knight problem and the Travelling Salesman
Since there is a plentiful supply, it is a cheap problem.
resource. Solutions that would otherwise take
2.DNA biochips can be made cleanly, unlike months to compute could be found in
the toxic materials used to make traditional hours.
microprocessors. .
3.DNA computers can be made many times
smaller than today's computers
4.DNA computers are massively parallel in
their computation.
Moore’s Law states that silicon
microprocessors double in complexity
roughly every two years.

One day this will no longer hold true when