This press release from the University of East Anglia tells us:
Scientists have found a way to "switch" the structure of DNA using copper salts and EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) -- an agent commonly found in shampoo and other household products. It was previously known that the structure of a piece of DNA could be changed using acid, which causes it to fold up into what is known as an "i-motif." But new research published today in the journal Chemical Communications reveals that the structure can be switched a second time into a hair-pin structure using positively-charged copper (copper cations). This change can also be reversed using EDTA. The applications for this discovery include nanotechnology -- where DNA is used to make tiny machines, and in DNA-based computing -- where computers are built from DNA rather than silicon.
Wouldn't a chemical-based switch make for slower performance?
(Score: 2) by skullz on Friday August 21 2015, @06:45PM
Wouldn't a chemical-based switch make for slower performance?
I think so but the main advantage I saw in DNA computing was size and scale. You (theoretically) would be able to fit many more gates and switches into a DNA computer per square inch than you would in traditional machines. Insert buzzwords such as massively parallel, big data, etc.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Runaway1956 on Friday August 21 2015, @07:04PM
Copper salts - check.
Shampoo - check.
Wife in the bathtub - check.
If you don't hear from me again, you'll know this experiment blew up on me.
(Score: 3, Informative) by skullz on Friday August 21 2015, @07:22PM
Well, if you are successful you will have created your own DNA computer.
It gets delivered in 9 months and comes with a mandatory 18 year support contract.
(Score: 4, Funny) by mhajicek on Friday August 21 2015, @09:39PM
It takes several years to install enough updates to be useful, then after a few more it stops accepting commands.
The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek
(Score: 2) by Tork on Friday August 21 2015, @07:24PM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈