Scientists have created a prototype processor based on DNA molecules

DNA-based computing is seen as one of the technologies that will change the computing industry in the future. A group of researchers from Incheon National University in South Korea has developed a relatively simple processor based on DNA molecules. The scientists believe such chips will replace traditional silicon processors.

Why such a processor is needed

The use of DNA molecules in technology is usually seen as a means of storing information. Researchers are experimenting with DNA to create high-capacity storage products. However, such products have problems with the speed of reading and writing data, because the storage of information in DNA works on a peculiar principle and requires new approaches to data.

Therefore, the researchers concluded that the solution to the problem could be a processor based on DNA molecules, which would work on the same principle as the memory devices based on DNA. Korean scientists have developed just such a device.

A prototype chip has been released under the name Microfluidic Processing Unit (MPU). The first prototype MPU can perform basic logical operations in computers, such as AND, OR, XOR and NOT, which are fairly simple, but this is a huge leap forward.

What's in store for the processor

Previously, researchers had to manually change complex configurations in reaction tubes to perform each DNA manipulation. This approach was very slow and impractical. The advent of the MPU reduces the complexity and paves the way for a real processor based on DNA molecules.

Researchers argue that with such strong evidence for the viability of the concept they presented, the future of DNA-based processors could come very soon.

Source: acs.org, theregister

Illustrations: blocksandfiles