The research team has created a chip measuring 1.5 cm square in which channels have been etched. Instead of electrons propelled by electrical charge, short strings of proteins – biological agents – travel around the circuit in a controlled way, with their movements powered by ATP. Because it is run by biological agents, the model bio-supercomputer the team has developed uses far less energy than standard electronic supercomputers.
“We’ve managed to create a very complex network in a very small area,” said Professor Dan Nicolau Sr, who began working on the idea more than a decade ago. “This started as a back of an envelope idea, with drawings of what looked like small worms exploring mazes.”
Although the model bio supercomputer could tackle a complex classical mathematical problem efficiently, the researchers recognise there is a lot of work required to move from a model to a full scale functional computer.
“Now this model exists as a way of successfully dealing with a single problem, there are going to be many others who will follow up and try to push it further, using different biological agents, for example,” said Prof Nicolau. “It’s hard to say how soon it will be before we see a full scale bio supercomputer. One option for dealing with larger and more complex problems may be to combine our device with a conventional computer to form a hybrid device. Right nowk, we're working on a variety of ways to push the research further.”
