Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 11:20:16 +0800
From: JF Koh <rain-AT-pacific.net.sg>
Subject: Re: ON COMPUTING WITH DNA  


At 07:18 PM 1/22/00 +0100, Arun-Kumar Tripathi wrote:
>Greetings Lists,
>
>With the quote from Max Born (1882-1970) --I believe there is no
philosophical 
>high-road in science, with epistemological signposts. No, we are in a
>jungle and find our way by trial and error, building our road behind us as
>we proceed...I found interesting references and literatures on computing
>with DNA, also known as bimolecular computing!

I remember reading just a couple of months ago (probably in the Economist
or New York Times) that a bunch of research scientists in Hewlett-Packard
labs in Palo Alto are working on DNA-based organic logic gates, with sizes
measured in terms of molecules.  Their work sounds a lot like what
Arun-Kumar has just described, with possibly huge leaps in miniaturization,
speed and energy-efficiency in computing.

They're still some way off from actual organic computers, but one of the
imagined applications is weaving smart circuits into the fabric of
clothing.  I imagine technology would then become ever more an invisible
part of our daily lives.

JF



     --- from list technology-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---