Communications of the ACM
Molecular Motor-Powered Biocomputers
European researchers recently launched a research project that aims to develop a biocomputer based on highly efficient molecular motors.
Credit: Till Korten, Cornelia Kowol
European researchers recently launched a research project that aims to develop a biocomputer based on highly efficient molecular motors that will use a fraction of the energy of existing computers, and that can address problems where many solutions need to be explored simultaneously.
The project will use biomolecular motors as computing units, in which each nano-sized machine can solve problems by moving through a nanofabricated network of channels designed to represent a mathematical algorithm, an approach known as "network-based biocomputation."
When the biomolecules reach a junction in the network, they either add a number to the sum they are calculating or leave it out, which makes each biomolecule act as a tiny computer with a processor and memory.
The researchers will focus on developing the technology required to scale up network-based biocomputers to a point at which they can compete with other alternative computing approaches.
From Dresden University of Technology (Germany)
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