The Biological Computer
Dateline: 07/08/99
Imagine a computer the size of cellular components that could interact with the cellular apparatus. In response to predetermined events, the tiny computer could synthesize RNA that would direct the production of proteins. Imagine no more! Israeli scientists recently took the first steps toward developing a rudimentary prototype.
The prototype is based on the Turing machine, a computing device developed in the 1930s. Before the prototype, an actual Turing machine had not been built.
Researchers hope to one day synthesize a subcellular computer that would interact with cellular components. A wide variety of applications, such as synthesizing drugs inside of cells, would then be possible.
They further hope that with the advent of improved molecular synthesizing techniques, the computer could be built from actual biomolecules. Its size would then be greatly reduced from the prototype.
Since the goal is to ultimately produce the device from these molecules, all of the programmatic instructions are derived from current cellular processes such as polymer elongation and ligation. Like ribosomes, programming rules determine a specific "step." For ribosomes, transfer RNA serves to specify a translation "step." Like a ribosome, the device can operate on two polymers at the same time.
Such a device could have wide ranging effects on a cell. The device could respond to a cellular state, such as a certain concentration of various molecules, and produce an effect based on that cellular state. This would allow doctors to have a potential in vivo (within the living organism) cellular aid.
Ribosomes are crucial to the cellular apparatus. They translate the "message" from messenger RNA into a protein. Messenger RNA is transcribed from DNA, so, in effect, ribosomes ultimately translate the DNA code into an actual protein.
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For other information see:
- Mechanical Computing Device to Serve as the Basis for a Biological Computer
Press release from the Weizmann Institute. - Biotechnology Net Links
Links and information pertaining to biotechnology. - Cell Biology Net Links
Links and information pertaining to cell biology.
