DNA computing

HotSoup · 26th February 2003, 07:21 AM

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...Acomputer.html

26th February 2003, 07:38 AM

This idea has huge potential, especially as we are approaching the limit of silicon based processors. At the moment though it looks as if the type of calculations they can do are limited. When someone comes up with a DNA turing machine, dump your AMD stocks quick.

gmol · 26th February 2003, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Suspected Idiot
This idea has huge potential, especially as we are approaching the limit of silicon based processors. At the moment though it looks as if the type of calculations they can do are limited. When someone comes up with a DNA turing machine, dump your AMD stocks quick.

Sigh,
This DNA computing crap is just another case of what is very nearly false advertising (if there is such a thing in science).

Adleman's original seminal experiments were very insightful, and got everyone thinking in new directions (which is a real good thing).

Then stuff like this comes along which makes all sort of scale comparisons (information density etc.)m which are just plain misleading.

I hate to be a cynic, but trust me; DNA computing (in the forms in currently exists) will never go beyond these kinds of simple little experiements...

CapelDodger · 26th February 2003, 01:29 PM

Quote:

As of now, the DNA computer can only perform rudimentary functions, and it has no practical applications. "Our computer is programmable, but it's not universal," said Shapiro. "There are computing tasks it inherently can't do."

"Well, duh." (Alan Turing)

Using DNA and enzymes is a short cut, since no-one can really better the design as of now. That doesn't mean a chemically based computing system may not at some stage be tenable. This report is just a 'proof-of-concept'.

gmol · 26th February 2003, 05:49 PM

Of course no one really knows what any proof of concept *may* bring.
But for people in the field, it can be obvious at time.
It's not at all forseeable how these 'computers' (they are really not) could do anything useful or lead to more interesting research (forgetting about the suggestions that the authors are making...).

Science has jaded me

....

Quote:

Originally posted by CapelDodger

"Well, duh." (Alan Turing)

Using DNA and enzymes is a short cut, since no-one can really better the design as of now. That doesn't mean a chemically based computing system may not at some stage be tenable. This report is just a 'proof-of-concept'.

Soapy Sam · 27th February 2003, 04:19 PM

I can't help thinking that DNA based Turing Machines have quite an established track record. But then, I'm biased.

gmol · 27th February 2003, 09:08 PM

The analogies are interesting, but largely superficial.

I assume that you are alluding the natural DNA polymerase system, which in fact, isn't at all a Turing machine when you actually look up the definitions.

Quote:

Originally posted by Soapy Sam
I can't help thinking that DNA based Turing Machines have quite an established track record. But then, I'm biased.

28th February 2003, 03:51 AM

Certainly DNA based systems have a very good record when taking the Turing test...

28th February 2003, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Suspected Idiot
Certainly DNA based systems have a very good record when taking the Turing test...

Actually DNA based systems, on average, do generally horribly on the Turing test. There is, of course, a few notable exceptions...

espritch · 2nd March 2003, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Actually DNA based systems, on average, do generally horribly on the Turing test. There is, of course, a few notable exceptions...

My dog not being one of those exceptions. Heck! I had a hard enough time just teaching him to use the keyboard...

26th February 2003, 07:21 AM	#1
HotSoup Student Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 26	DNA computing http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...Acomputer.html
HotSoup Student Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 26	__________________ Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. -Groucho Marx

26th February 2003, 07:38 AM	#2
Suspected Idiot Guest Posts: n/a	This idea has huge potential, especially as we are approaching the limit of silicon based processors. At the moment though it looks as if the type of calculations they can do are limited. When someone comes up with a DNA turing machine, dump your AMD stocks quick.
Suspected Idiot Guest Posts: n/a

26th February 2003, 11:17 AM	#3
gmol Scholar Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 87	Quote: Originally posted by Suspected Idiot This idea has huge potential, especially as we are approaching the limit of silicon based processors. At the moment though it looks as if the type of calculations they can do are limited. When someone comes up with a DNA turing machine, dump your AMD stocks quick. Sigh, This DNA computing crap is just another case of what is very nearly false advertising (if there is such a thing in science). Adleman's original seminal experiments were very insightful, and got everyone thinking in new directions (which is a real good thing). Then stuff like this comes along which makes all sort of scale comparisons (information density etc.)m which are just plain misleading. I hate to be a cynic, but trust me; DNA computing (in the forms in currently exists) will never go beyond these kinds of simple little experiements...
gmol Scholar Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 87

26th February 2003, 01:29 PM	#4
CapelDodger Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Cardiff, South Wales Posts: 16,744	Quote: As of now, the DNA computer can only perform rudimentary functions, and it has no practical applications. "Our computer is programmable, but it's not universal," said Shapiro. "There are computing tasks it inherently can't do." "Well, duh." (Alan Turing) Using DNA and enzymes is a short cut, since no-one can really better the design as of now. That doesn't mean a chemically based computing system may not at some stage be tenable. This report is just a 'proof-of-concept'.
	__________________ It's a poor sort of memory that only works backward - Lewis Carroll (1832-1898) God can make a cow out of a tree, but has He ever done so? Therefore show some reason why a thing is so, or cease to hold that it is so - William of Conches, c1150

26th February 2003, 05:49 PM	#5
gmol Scholar Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 87	Of course no one really knows what any proof of concept may bring. But for people in the field, it can be obvious at time. It's not at all forseeable how these 'computers' (they are really not) could do anything useful or lead to more interesting research (forgetting about the suggestions that the authors are making...). Science has jaded me .... Quote: Originally posted by CapelDodger "Well, duh." (Alan Turing) Using DNA and enzymes is a short cut, since no-one can really better the design as of now. That doesn't mean a chemically based computing system may not at some stage be tenable. This report is just a 'proof-of-concept'.
gmol Scholar Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 87

27th February 2003, 04:19 PM	#6
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885	I can't help thinking that DNA based Turing Machines have quite an established track record. But then, I'm biased.
Soapy Sam NLH Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 25,885

27th February 2003, 09:08 PM	#7
gmol Scholar Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 87	The analogies are interesting, but largely superficial. I assume that you are alluding the natural DNA polymerase system, which in fact, isn't at all a Turing machine when you actually look up the definitions. Quote: Originally posted by Soapy Sam I can't help thinking that DNA based Turing Machines have quite an established track record. But then, I'm biased.
gmol Scholar Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 87

28th February 2003, 03:51 AM	#8
Suspected Idiot Guest Posts: n/a	Certainly DNA based systems have a very good record when taking the Turing test...
Suspected Idiot Guest Posts: n/a

28th February 2003, 07:12 AM	#9
Plutarck Guest Posts: n/a	Quote: Originally posted by Suspected Idiot Certainly DNA based systems have a very good record when taking the Turing test... Actually DNA based systems, on average, do generally horribly on the Turing test. There is, of course, a few notable exceptions...
Plutarck Guest Posts: n/a

2nd March 2003, 08:30 PM	#10
espritch Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,380	Quote: Actually DNA based systems, on average, do generally horribly on the Turing test. There is, of course, a few notable exceptions... My dog not being one of those exceptions. Heck! I had a hard enough time just teaching him to use the keyboard...
	__________________ "I'm the master of low expectations." - G. W. Bush