Silicon vs. DNA Microprocessors

[Charles]

Silicon microprocessors have been the heart of the computing world for more than 40 years. In that time, manufacturers have crammed more and more electronic devices onto their microprocessors. In accordance with Moore's Law, the number of electronic devices put on a microprocessor has doubled every 18 months. Moore's Law is named after Intel founder Gordon Moore, who predicted in 1965 that microprocessors would double in complexity every two years. Many have predicted that Moore's Law will soon reach its end, because of the physical speed and miniaturization limitations of silicon microprocessors.
DNA computers have the potential to take computing to new levels, picking up where Moore's Law leaves off. There are several advantages to using DNA instead of silicon:
• As long as there are cellular organisms, there will always be a supply of DNA.
• The large supply of DNA makes it a cheap resource.
• Unlike the toxic materials used to make traditional microprocessors, DNA biochips can be made cleanly.
• DNA computers are many times smaller than today's computers.
DNA's key advantage is that it will make computers smaller than any computer that has come before them, while at the same time holding more data. One pound of DNA has the capacity to store more information than all the electronic computers ever built; and the computing power of a teardrop-sized DNA computer, using the DNA logic gates, will be more powerful than the world's most powerful supercomputer. More than 10 trillion DNA molecules can fit into an area no larger than 1 cubic centimeter (0.06 cubic inches). With this small amount of DNA, a computer would be able to hold 10 terabytes of data, and perform 10 trillion calculations at a time. By adding more DNA, more calculations could be performed.
Unlike conventional computers, DNA computers perform calculations parallel to other calculations. Conventional computers operate linearly, taking on tasks one at a time. It is parallel computing that allows DNA to solve complex mathematical problems in hours, whereas it might take electrical computers hundreds of years to complete them.
The first DNA computers are unlikely to feature word processing, e-mailing and solitaire programs. Instead, their powerful computing power will be used by national governments for cracking secret codes, or by airlines wanting to map more efficient routes.
From article on site “How Stuff Work”:
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/dna...
Note: This new technology inspired me to write the techno thriller – “The True Virus”.

[Laureen]

Wow, very interesting. I will send that link to my son who would understand it. I am computer illiterate but if computers could be made much smaller then that would have to save the world a lot of waste junk. Tossing out computers or phones after a year or two has always concerned me.

[James, Group Founder]

Charles wrote: "Silicon microprocessors have been the heart of the computing world for more than 40 years. In that time, manufacturers have crammed more and more electronic devices onto their microprocessors. In a..."

Fascinating post Charles and a field I know nothing about, even though I have heard of Moore's Law and the theory that it cannot continue forever.

A few questions:

Are DNA computers the same as "organic computers"?

I assume the DNA fuelling such computers will be non-human DNA?

Is it possible there are already advanced DNA computers in the classified sections of the world's governments/militaries?

Thanks and I look forward to reading THE TRUE VIRUS in future.

Best,
James

[Charles]

Since DNA is considered to be an organic molecule, one could refer to such a computer as organic. Since the DNA used for these computers deal with short DNA molecules used as four digit codes, they are non-human. But, since a virus is nothing more than a DNA molecule surrounded by a protein coat, could the short chains used by this type of computer be combined together to create a virus. This is the hypothesis I used for my thriller novel - "The True Virus". If you read the prologue for my book, you'll see that the DNA computer they set up is one to be used by the CIA to decipher coded messages. But, my novel is fiction and not based on any real facts that governments are using these DNA computers for code breaking.

[James, Group Founder]

Charles wrote: "Since DNA is considered to be an organic molecule, one could refer to such a computer as organic. Since the DNA used for these computers deal with short DNA molecules used as four digit codes, they..."

Okay thanks for the explanation, Charles.

[Charles]

“99¢ 7 Day Amazon Countdown Special” for biotech thriller, “The True Virus”, starts 8/3/15.
Could a hacker break into a computer and plant a program to create a deadly virus like Ebola? The answer is YES in the biotech thriller - “The True Virus”. In this action filled novel, Hamas bioterrorist corrupt the DNA component of the CIA’s main computer and transfer a true virus to an agent’s cell phone in Israel. The result is a life threatening epidemic which must be stopped.
http://www.amazon.com/True-Virus-Thri...

[Charles]

REMINDER: 99¢ Amazon countdown special ends this weekend (8/9/15 at midnight PT) for biotech thriller - “The True Virus”. Hamas bioterrorist hacks into the DNA component of CIA’s computer to create an Ebola virus to use against Israel.
http://www.amazon.com/True-Virus-Thri...

[K.P.]

ooh this is perfect for this story im currently working on! i already knew about neurotechnology and cybernetics but never thought of dna microprocessors! *glomps charles*

off to do more research!

[Charles]

NEW SALE: For the next 7 days the biotech thriller, “The True Virus”, will be available at a countdown special price of 99¢ for the Kindle version at Amazon. This novel involves a Hamas bioterrorist who uses a DNA base computer to create an Ebola virus to be used as a germ warfare agent against Israel.
http://www.amazon.com/True-Virus-Thri...

[Elisabet]

Charles wrote: "NEW SALE: For the next 7 days the biotech thriller, “The True Virus”, will be available at a countdown special price of 99¢ for the Kindle version at Amazon. This novel involves a Hamas bioterroris..."

Sounds interesting...I'll check it out :)

[Charles]

REMINDER: 99¢ Kindle countdown special at Amazon ends this weekend (1/31/16 at midnight PT) for the biotech thriller - “The True Virus"
http://www.amazon.com/True-Virus-Thri...

[Charles]

Novel about DNA Computers on SALE!!!

99¢ “7 day Kindle countdown special” for biotech thriller, “The True Virus”, starts today, 7/23/16.
Ebola, computer hacking and the Gaza/Israeli war are all included in this action filled novel.
Synopsis:
This story takes place during the December 2008 to January 2009 Gaza/Israeli war. It starts out with a hacking incident involving the main CIA computer. After this breach in security, John Brookfield a CIA computer specialist travels to Israel to work with Sarah Stein the Co-developer of DNA computer technology to find out if the DNA component of the CIA system has been compromised. John is shocked when the cell phone of a fellow CIA agent in Israel is hit by a bullet and explodes in his hand. Soon after, an epidemic breaks out and the agent dies. With Sarah's help, John discovers that a Hamas bioterrorist is the hacker who programmed the CIA's system to produce the real live virus that caused the epidemic. The story takes a dramatic turn when Hamas uses this same virus, which the World Health Organization has now identified as Ebola, to infect John.
Review comments:
“I couldn't help but think this is the kind of plot you might see on a TV show like 24.”
- George Esler, thriller novel writer
“The plot is well-developed and the story is action-packed. A page turner from start to finish, the suspense and mystery that carries on throughout the book is engaging and has a lot of twist and surprises.”
- Official review from OnlineBookClub
http://www.amazon.com/True-Virus-Thri...

[Charles]

lain,
I am familiar with this youtube video and have used it in presentations I've given on DNA as a computer storage media. Here's another youtube video I've used that you might find interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNXeV...