Biomimetic file 149: DNA programs and a new era of medicine

DNA Programs and a new era of medicine

Picture source: public domain

Highlight: “Perhaps the greatest advantage of DNA over electronic circuits is that it can interact with its biochemical environment. Computing with molecules involves recognising the presence or absence of certain molecules, and so a natural application of DNA computing is to bring such programmability into the realm of environmental biosensing, or delivering medicines and therapies inside living organisms.”

Insight: An interesting perspective on combining DNA computing with human body systems. The idea to pre-program a strand of DNA in order to carry out a specific task inside the body (for instance repairing damaged cells) is a very promising concept that could fundamentally transform medicine. The point is that we are still unable to replicate, alter or even influence many inner body functions through conventional drug intake, so perhaps this new DNA programming approach could offer some solutions…

More information: here

What is Biomimetics: the field of gaining inspiration from nature first to solve some of our most difficult challenges. Instead of coming up with our own solutions to a problematic, the odds are that species or natural systems on the planet already offer an ultimate solution. This simple fact is also another strong case to preserve species at all cost as the intellectual heritage contained within or through the study of species is both irreplaceable and invaluable…

http://www.bluestrike-group.com/

Biomimetic file 143: Genetic Inspired Computer Softwares

Genetic Inspired Computer Softwares

Picture source: ags andrew

Highlight: “Computer scientists have a history of borrowing ideas from nature, such as evolution. When it comes to optimising computer programs, a very interesting evolutionary-based approach has emerged over the past five or six years that could bring incalculable benefits to industry and eventually consumers… it is called genetic improvement…genetic improvement involves writing an automated “programmer” who manipulates the source code of a piece of software through trial and error with a view to making it work more efficiently.”

Insight: The genetic code that defines species characteristics is increasingly becoming a source of inspiration for IT developments. There is a lot to learn from DNA sequencing in terms of coming up with more effective computers hardware (e.g four base coding mechanism as opposed to current binomial systems) but also software designs by studying specific sequences of DNA and/or processes involving them such as self-healing or information transport mechanisms. Many complex processes in nature involving DNA (and also RNA) are now quite well understood thanks to advances in modern genetics; it is likely that future breakthroughs in computer science will come from nature inspired designs and processes..

More information: here

What is Biomimetics: the field of gaining inspiration from nature first to solve some of our most difficult challenges. Instead of coming up with our own solutions to a problematic, the odds are that species or natural systems on the planet already offer an ultimate solution. This simple fact is also another strong case to preserve species at all cost as the intellectual heritage contained within or through the study of species is both irreplaceable and invaluable…

http://www.bluestrike-group.com/