Biological Computers Prototype => Work In Progress

A group of researchers at Imperial College London have claimed that they are now one step closer to making the first ever digital device in human history comprising of biological components such as bacteria and DNA.The revelation has no doubt beefed up the belief of all those who always thought some day in future we will have tiny little biological computers roaming around our bodies to constantly monitor and improve our health condition.

"Logic gates are the fundamental building blocks in silicon circuitry that our entire digital age is based on," said Richard Kitney co-author of the research project recently published in the journal nature Communications. "Without them, we could not process digital information. Now that we have demonstrated that we can replicate these parts using bacteria and DNA, we hope that our work could lead to a new generation of biological processors, whose applications in information processing could be as important as their electronic equivalents."

The group of geniuses from Imperial College also demonstrated how they can successfully develop logic-gates, made of harmless chemicals and bugs. The logic gates invented by the researchers also happen to be the most advanced ‘biological developed till this date.

"Logic gates are the fundamental building blocks in silicon circuitry that our entire digital age is based on. Without them, we could not process digital information," said Professor Richard Kitney, one of the researchers involved in the project, DailyMail UK reports."Now that we have demonstrated we can replicate these parts using bacteria and DNA, we hope that our work could lead to a new generation of biological processors, whose applications in information processing could be as important as their electronic equivalents," he added.

According to a press release, the project group performed a successful test in which they showed that their biological gates can replicate the process that is equivalent to an electronic transistor gate that can be switched on and off. While Kitney said that his gates are the most advanced biological logic gates ever created, he conceded that they are not close to actually producing them for actual products.

The next step in the development are multiple gates in "more complex circuitry", which could one day lead to building blocks for "microscopic biological computers". Kitney envisions, for example, sensors that swim inside arteries, or even devices that detect and destroy cancer cells inside the body. There could also be pollution monitors that detect and kill "dangerous toxins such as arsenic".