A molecular DNA-based computer has executed complex mathematical equations completely without electricity, according to a study.
The research team at Ireland’s Maynooth University says the breakthrough offers potential for powering future energy-efficient data centres or even operating inside living human cells.
Currently, conventional computers and data centres rely heavily on energy-hungry silicon chips. In contrast, this molecular computer uses a collection of interacting DNA strands in salt water to solve complex equations. It does this without a continuous electricity supply, requiring only a little heat to kick-start the chemical computation.
“Silicon-based computers use so much energy – 23% of Ireland’s electricity goes into computing and data storage. We’ve been blinkered by only seeing one type of computer,” said Professor Damien Woods.
The ‘DISCO’ project (DNA-based infrastructure for storage and computation) aims to develop new ways to compute and store data using DNA technology...