Communications of the ACM
Scientists Working on sing Dna For Computers
Credit: University of California San Francisco
Researchers at Brock University in Canada have developed a strategy that simplifies the design of DNA circuits, which eventually could be used in a DNA computer. Called the "allosteric DNA toehold (A-toehold) strategy," Brock scientist Feng Li says the method enables DNA molecules to be manipulated using the principle of allostery, which is widely used for regulating enzyme activities by nature. During the process called "toehold exchange," an input DNA strand binds to a sticky end (toehold) or another DNA molecule. Li says the toehold exchange method streamlines the design of DNA circuits.
Li notes that DNA strands would need to be manipulated in order to use DNA to replace a computer, and "rules" are needed to manipulate those DNA. "There are existing rules you can use to manipulate DNA, but what we're trying to do is to simplify this process by providing alternative rules," Li says.
How the output of a DNA computer will be displayed for the average user is still unknown, but this and other unknowns will eventually be resolved through further research, Li says. He also says simplifying the design of DNA circuits would save DNA molecules, making their use less expensive.
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