DNA Computers Tackle Problems Too Tough for Silicon

Beyond silicon chips and quantum bits, a new form of computation is emerging, using the very molecule of life: DNA. This unique computational model tackles problems that are incredibly difficult for conventional computers to solve, offering a revolutionary path forward in processing power.

Instead of electronic circuits, DNA computing works by designing specific DNA molecules and utilising their spontaneous chemical reactions. This natural behaviour allows for massive parallelism, meaning countless calculations can happen simultaneously. This makes it a viable solution for high-complexity challenges such as 'nondeterministic polynomial time' (NP) problems, which include famous puzzles like the travelling salesman problem and even Sudoku.

Compared to traditional methods, DNA computing presents three remarkable advantages: high parallelism, incredibly efficient data storage, and low energy consumption. Researchers are now actively developing two critical branches of this technology: DNA-based circuits and advanced information storage systems, paving the way for a new era of biological computation.