New DNA-based chip can be programmed to solve complex math problems


Date:
September 14, 2021
Source:
Incheon National University
Summary:
A novel chip automates the reaction cascades occurring between
molecules inside DNA to carry out complex mathematical calculations.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
The field of DNA computing has evolved by leaps and bounds since it was
first proposed nearly 30 years ago. But most DNA computing processes
are still performed manually, with reactants being added step-by-step
to the reaction by hand. Now, finally, scientists at Incheon National University, Korea have found a way to automate DNA calculations by
developing a unique chip that can be controlled by a personal computer.


==========================================================================
The term 'DNA' immediately calls to mind the double-stranded helix that contains all our genetic information. But the individual units of its
two strands are pairs of molecules bonded with each other in a selective, complementary fashion. Turns out, one can take advantage of this pairing property to perform complex mathematical calculations, and this forms
the basis of DNA computing.

Since DNA has only two strands, performing even a simple calculation
requires multiple chemical reactions using different sets of DNA. In
most existing research, the DNA for each reaction are added manually,
one by one, into a single reaction tube, which makes the process very cumbersome. Microfluidic chips, which consist of narrow channels etched
onto a material like plastic, offer a way to automate the process. But
despite their promise, the use of microfluidic chips for DNA computing
remains underexplored.

In a recent article -- made available online in ACS Nano on 7 July 2021
and published in Volume 15 Issue 7 of the journal on 27 July 2021 --
a team of scientists from Incheon National University (INU), Korea,
present a programmable DNA-based microfluidic chip that can be controlled
by a personal computer to perform DNA calculations. "Our hope is that
DNA-based CPUs will replace electronic CPUs in the future because they
consume less power, which will help with global warming. DNA-based CPUs
also provide a platform for complex calculations like deep learning
solutions and mathematical modelling," says Dr. Youngjun Song from INU,
who led the study.

Dr. Song and team used 3D printing to fabricate their microfluidic
chip, which can execute Boolean logic, one of the fundamental logics
of computer programming. Boolean logic is a type of true-or-false logic
that compares inputs and returns a value of 'true' or 'false' depending
on the type of operation, or 'logic gate,' used. The logic gate in
this experiment consisted of a single-stranded DNA template. Different single-stranded DNA were then used as inputs. If part of an input DNA had
a complementary Watson-Crick sequence to the template DNA, it paired to
form double-stranded DNA. The output was considered true or false based
on the size of the final DNA.

What makes the designed chip extraordinary is a motor-operated valve
system that can be operated using a PC or smartphone. The chip
and software set-up together form a microfluidic processing unit
(MPU). Thanks to the valve system, the MPU could perform a series of
reactions to execute a combination of logic operations in a rapid and convenient manner.

This unique valve system of the programmable DNA-based MPU paves the
way for more complex cascades of reactions that can code for extended functions.

"Future research will focus on a total DNA computing solution with DNA algorithms and DNA storage systems," says Dr. Song.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Incheon_National_University. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Wonjin Lee, Minsang Yu, Doyeon Lim, Taeseok Kang, Youngjun Song.

Programmable DNA-Based Boolean Logic Microfluidic Processing
Unit. ACS Nano, 2021; 15 (7): 11644 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c02153 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210914184825.htm

--- up 1 week, 5 days, 8 hours, 25 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)