Info
Info
News Article

Green IT And Computers With Artificial DNA

News
A team in Japan creates artificial DNA, furthering hopes in DNA computing and possible green IT.



A team of researchers at the University
of Toyama in Japan, led by Masahiko Inouye, claim to have created the
world's first stable artificial DNA molecules, made from synthesised
nucleotides that resemble their natural counterparts.




DNA is made up of four basic building
blocks, or bases, which code proteins used in cell functioning and
development. While other researchers have developed DNA molecules
with a few select artificial parts, the Japanese team put together
four completely new, artificial bases inside the framework of a DNA
molecule, creating unusually stable, double stranded structures
resembling natural DNA. According to the scientists, the artificial
DNA acts like the real thing, and even forms right handed duplexes
with complimentary artificial strands. They hope to one day use their
discovery to create a new biological information storage system that
functions outside of the cell. Artificial DNA could be advantageously
used instead of natural DNA due to its stability against naturally
occurring enzymes and its structural diversity.




The unique chemistry of these
artificial bases and DNA structures, coupled with their high
stability, offers limitless possibilities for new biotechnology
materials and applications, such as the creation of powerful DNA
computers. These computers are constructed by using DNA as software
and enzymes as hardware, rather than traditional silicon based
components. By mixing DNA and enzymes in this way and monitoring the
reactions, complex computer calculations can be performed. DNA
molecules are similar to computer hard drives in the way they save
information about an individual's genes. However, they have the
potential to perform calculations much faster than today's fastest
man made computers. The reason for this is that, unlike a traditional
computer, calculations are performed simultaneously, similar to a
parallel computing schematic, as it takes advantage of numerous
different DNA molecules attempting to test various possibilities at
once.




In addition, unlike today's PCs, DNA
computers require minimal or no external power sources as they run on
internal energy produced during cellular reactions. There is a huge
amount of potential for a computer that does not need to be plugged
in; the implications this has for laptops and true mobility are
endless.




Because of these reasons, scientists
all over the world are looking for ways in which DNA may be
integrated into a computer chip to create a biochip that will make
standard computers faster and more energy efficient. DNA computers
could potentially be the future of 'green IT'.




Although the idea of artificial DNA and
DNA computers may seem far fetched, the concept is entirely plausible
if one keeps an open mind: although DNA solutions may seem impossibly
complex, there are few people who actually understand how silicon
based computing works. In addition, current systems are based on the
binary system, and DNA computers would be similar in nature: they
could leverage the pre-existing relationships between the four bases
which are the core of every DNA molecule.




However, the more sinister connotations
of artificial DNA computing, even though unfounded, remain fixed in
users' minds. Therefore, since the first concept of DNA computing
came about in 1994, researchers have been trying to develop
artificial versions of DNA. Since the components of artificial DNA
that have been created by Inouye's team do not exist in natural DNA,
it is nearly impossibly for them to react together, eliminating any
threat of mutation.




The discovery of artificial DNA by
Inouye and the Japanese team could be vital to the furthering of DNA
computing as it would allow researchers to build custom DNA
structures which are optimised for computing. Unfortunately, the
current method used for constructing the DNA structures creates only
short strands which are not long enough to encode information. The
technology for building artificial DNA is still extremely new,
however, and is only the first step (albeit a huge one) towards using
DNA as an external information storage system. DNA computers will not
be replacing today's standard PCs anytime soon as there is still
years of research to be conducted before it can be determined if this
technology will be fruitful in computing. That said, as DNA computing
becomes more high profile, it may be beneficial for hardware
technology giants such as Apple, Dell, HP, IBM, Intel and Sun
Microsystems to begin investing in research which emphasises
artificial DNA and its potential applications.




Ultimately, DNA computers are still in
their infancy, but, if successful, will be capable of storing much
more data than a regular PC and would be considerably more energy
efficient and smaller in size. Given these huge benefits, investors
should not rule DNA computers out of their strategies purely because
they seem too implausible. Those vendors that participate in this
revolutionary research could be pioneers in the development of DNA
microprocessors and computers, if and when the technology is found to
be viable.


Analysis Of UK Commercial Roof Space Shows Solar PV Film Can Achieve Net Zero Without Greenfield Sites
FRV And Harmony Energy To Develop Second UK Utility Scale Battery Project
TLT Advises Innova Energy On £30m Refinancing Of 57 MW Solar Portfolio
The Smarter E South America Postponed To October 18-20, 2021
Low Carbon Develop UK’s Largest Community-owned Solar Park
Power Roll Trials Solar PV To Power Up Himalayan Villages
Everoze Creates Skyray To Design And Engineer Great Solar PV Projects
Sonnedix Named ESG Global Solar Power Generation Sector Leader By GRESB
Ingenious Invests In Electric Vehicle Charging Firm
NextEnergy Capital Acquires Its First Asset In Portugal 17.4MWp Solar PV Project
Greencoat Renewables Announces First Transaction In Nordic Market
Going Green In Lancashire – Hundreds Of Houses Installed With Solar Panels In Ground-breaking Project
UK Green Tech Company Myenergi To Double Workforce By 2021
FIMER Powers UK Largest Rooftop Solar Project
Habitat Enerdy Enters Balancing Mechanism With Largest Battery
Tandem PV Devices Feel The Heat
Oakapple Renewable Energy Appoint Stuart Gentry To Head Business Development
Sharp Launches New 440W Half-cut Cell PV Panel
New Innovation Set To Change Renewable Energy Market
UK'S Largest Battery Ready To Balance The Grid
SOLARWATT Links With Easy Roof To Provide Building-integrated PV For Better-looking Buildings And Smart EV Charging
Solar Power As Rental Offer Launched By Aggreko
Sunstore Solar Launches WattGrid, A New Range Of Turnkey Off-grid Power Systems
TLT Advises Santander On 30MW Flagship Battery Storage Project
×
Search the news archive

To close this popup you can press escape or click the close icon.
Logo
×
Logo
×
Register - Step 1

You may choose to subscribe to the Smart Solar Magazine, the Smart Solar Newsletter, or both. You may also request additional information if required, before submitting your application.


Please subscribe me to:

 

You chose the industry type of "Other"

Please enter the industry that you work in:
Please enter the industry that you work in:
 
X
Info
X
Info
{taasPodcastNotification} Array
Live Event