A well-thought-out reaction: the DNA chip diagnoses many diseases from a drop of blood.

Russian scientists have found a way to create a DNA chip that is fully compatible with classical computers. In the proposed technology, reactions involving biological molecules serve as an analogue of logical operations. Such a hybrid computing machine can be used, for example, in personalized medicine to quickly diagnose multiple diseases from a single blood sample, to encrypt data, or to operate artificial intelligence. The developers are already testing individual elements of the chip in the laboratory. According to experts, the technology can indeed find practical applications, but most likely for solving narrow tasks.

Scientists have created a hybrid biochip

MIPT specialists have proposed an original architecture for hybrid computing systems combining traditional electronic chips with biological ones. They use DNA molecules for calculations. Biocomputers are actively being developed all over the world. However, the problem for the technology remains its incompatibility with existing electronics. The idea of Russian researchers solves this problem. Machines built according to their proposed scheme can be used for ultra-fast data analysis, for example, for simultaneous diagnosis of multiple diseases by a drop of blood or to speed up the work of artificial intelligence algorithms in pattern recognition. The available capacities are still not coping well with this. In addition, such calculations potentially require much less energy.

— The solution to the compatibility problem is to use the unique properties of biomolecules. For example, DNA molecules can be programmed so that they react with each other according to the principle of logical elements "and" or "or". When one DNA molecule displaces another on the surface of the transistor, it changes the electric charge and, consequently, the current flowing through the transistor. In this way, the biochemical reaction is converted into a digital signal that is understandable to a computer. Proteins, in turn, can change their shape under the influence of light, temperature or chemicals, which can also be fixed with an electronic chip and used for calculations," said the first author of the work, a leading researcher at the Center for Genomic Technologies and Bioinformatics at MIPT, Doctor of Technical Sciences Ivan Bobrinetsky.

Photo: MIPT

The main advantage of such a system is the incredible parallelism, that is, the similarity, in the processes. While a conventional processor executes commands one at a time, billions of molecules can work simultaneously in a drop of liquid, each of which solves part of the overall task. According to MIPT scientists, the approach is useful primarily for the development of personalized medicine, where complex biological data needs to be analyzed quickly and accurately. It can also be used in the secure storage of information and the creation of new encryption systems based on biological principles.

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At this stage, the technology is in the stage of active laboratory research. Scientists are already demonstrating working prototypes of individual logic elements, but to create a full-fledged biocomputer, they will have to cope with a number of serious challenges. The main objectives are to ensure the long—term stability of biomolecules in electronic devices and to develop standard technological processes for their mass production. The scientists' plans are focused on solving these problems, which in the future will allow the creation of fundamentally new computing systems that combine the best features of wildlife and silicon electronics.

The prospects of the DNA computer

The technology of DNA computing itself is extremely promising. Primarily for biomarker analysis and real-time diagnostics, but in principle other applications are possible, where computational parallelization plays a major role, Pavel Zun, associate professor at the ITMO University Scientific and Educational Center for Infochemistry, PhD, explained to Izvestia.

— The direction of developing interfaces between biomolecular computers and silicon circuits will allow in the future to use chemical computers together with traditional computers and combine the strengths of both approaches. The main practical limitations remain the creation of systems of molecules with specified initial properties and obtaining calculation results from the system, especially when calculation data from individual molecules is needed," said Pavel Zun.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Rostec State Corporation Press Service

In computing, they try to use DNA molecules as memory, with high data density. After all, in nature, an entire genome is stored in one molecule, said Stanislav Straupe, head of the Quantum Computing sector at the Central Research Institute of Moscow State University, head of the scientific group at the Russian Quantum Center.

"However, using DNA for computing can be difficult because of the speed. Chemical reactions are relatively slow. The results of multiple parallel computations still need to be counted somehow. In general, it is necessary to evaluate the capabilities of the technology. Most likely, such devices will find niche applications, for example, for the analysis of chemical melons, because they are similar in nature," he added.

Solutions with multiple parallel computations based on DNA can, in fact, be called a neuromorphic, biologically similar system. Such technologies are actively developing now and may have practical applications, summarized Dmitry Kaplun, Associate Professor of the Department of Automation and Control Processes at St. Petersburg State Technical University "LETI".