Enzyme Computer Could Live Inside You 155
dylanduck writes "New Scientist reports the creation of an enzyme-based computer that performs AND and XOR calculations, and combinations of the two, based on the presence or absence of specific chemicals. If they can be engineered inside living cells, they could measure a patient's metabolism and deliver just the right amount of drug at just the right spot, the researchers reckon. I'm worried about the viruses." Ba-dump *chink*.
Ha! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Ha! (Score:1, Insightful)
As opposed to a geeky 14 year old who is too scared to talk to girls.
Re:Ha! (Score:1)
Something like a small but well-focused group of terrorists?
Re:Ha! (Score:2)
Re:Ha! (Score:1)
Actually, not so funny as you might think (Score:1)
Seriously, this could be useful (Score:2)
If it's not used for tracking or behavior-monitoring purposes, I say it could be a very handy tool for patient and
Re:Enzymes are not alive (Score:1)
Fan of "Stranger In A Strange Land" by robert a heilein, me too. that book actually changed the way I look at a lot of things.
anyways I am not worried about terrorists messing with this kind of thing cause the equipment it would take would most likely be far beyond that of a terrorist. nuclear power on the other hand is something rather easily attainable and for a terrorist much better option
Re:good ol' zonky (Score:2)
ba dump chink: about 11,000 results. (Using ba-dump *chink* gets 242, putting quotes around it gets 39)
badump pisssh: No results. (Also no results for ba dump pisssh.)
I'm sorry, I think you lost this round. Better luck next time.
In Related News (Score:2, Funny)
Re:In Related News (Score:3, Funny)
In Soviet Russia... (Score:1, Funny)
Oh wait...
Yes, but ... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Yes, but ... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Yes, but ... (Score:2)
Re:Yes, but ... (Score:3, Funny)
I dunno (Score:2, Insightful)
But can't you do that already with standard computers (we can make them pretty small these days, so I'm told)?
My guess is that they instinctively think "Ooh, it's made of enzymes, instead of all that n
Re:I dunno (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, otherwise, what good are they? But you're quite right that this is very far off. I can imagine the technology being used to putter around with animals for years before it's a good idea to start screwing around with humans. The fact is that we just don't understand all that much about the basic functioning of some of these systems - or ba
Re:I dunno (Score:2)
How about this, imagine that you have a metabolic disorder such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, etc...
With a bit of engineering you could induce color changes in a few skin cells in "minute time" where specfic darkening would occur in a regular grid, perhaps on the inside of your wrist, gauging your blood chemistry. The dots would need to be applied like tatoos, and each dot would need a specific mix, and the dots would need to be re-
I'm more worried ... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I'm more worried ... (Score:5, Funny)
It'll cost twice as much, and only models will be able to install it.
(lol cliches)
Re:I'm more worried ... (Score:1)
...and you won't be able to uninstall the bundled software like Alimentary Explorer and Windows Memory Player.
Isn't there already one in your body? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Isn't there already one in your body? (Score:1)
Then again...
How many already waddle due to poor health choices?
Re:Isn't there already one in your body? (Score:2)
Re:Isn't there already one in your body? (Score:2)
Re:Isn't there already one in your body? (Score:2)
Re:Isn't there already one in your body? (Score:2)
-l
Re:Isn't there already one in your body? (Score:1)
Thanks, I'll be here all week!
Re:Isn't there already one in your body? (Score:3, Funny)
-- Sony
Re:Isn't there already one in your body? (Score:2)
Or $2.95?
Whatever.
Old News... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Old News... (Score:1)
Re:Old News... (Score:1)
Regards,
Steve
Re:Old News... (Score:2)
Re:Old News... (Score:2)
I have one of these too and live in a network. I often interface and exchange data with the one called "wife." Its like sneakernet, but you use something other than your feet.
Re:Old News... (Score:2)
I hope you both take adequate precautions before opening one of your ports.
Does your network require a username and password- I bet your username was 'marry_m3' and the password 'i_d0'
If you ever have trouble logging on, chocolate and flower patches tend to help ease network restrictions.
Also, if you're feeling adventurous, you may seek to interface with an alternative port, but you may be met with resistance.
Older News (Score:2)
"If we can just create a complex system in the human body that monitors status and catalyzes restorative chemical responses we might really have something!"
"Uhm...sir? I asked the French, and they said they've already got one."
"WHAT? What did they say?"
"That they...that they already have one, sir."
"Well ask them if we can see it?"
"I did, sir."
"What did they say?"
"They laughed at me and then they threw vegetables and chickens at me.
Re:Old News... (Score:2)
Really? You still have one those old things?
I thought that's what a good college education was meant to fix.
Anybody here read (Score:2)
In it someone's "enzyme computers" got too smart.
Re:Anybody here read (Score:2)
Er... (Score:1)
Re:Er... (Score:2)
Re:Er... (Score:1)
In theory someone could still change their program physically... but if someone you don't trust is up to their elbows in your kidneys, you've got more pressing concerns!
Re:Er... (Score:1)
I wanted to write a sci-fi story on this... (Score:2)
Then one student learns how to break the code and then start to modify all his DNA and becomes a superbeast consuming all life and then the good guy nerd transforms into some physic dragon ball-esque character (who can also modify his dn
Re:I wanted to write a sci-fi story on this... (Score:2)
(I'm serious.) I know we all need a little push once in a while, but once you get started it'll roll..
Re:I wanted to write a sci-fi story on this... (Score:2)
Then one student learns how to break the code and then start to modify all his DNA and becomes a superbeast consuming all life and then the good guy nerd transforms into some physic dragon ball-esque character (who can also modify his dn
Beer (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Beer (Score:2)
You have made a classic blunder. You don't want to check for exact equality with a continuous variable.
...
If Day=Friday AND ( abs (time - BEER_O_CLOCK) < epsilon) )
This way, you don't risk missing beer time just because the function ran a fraction of a second too late. Actually, it'd probably be even better to set a flag.
i
Forget viruses... (Score:2)
Re:Forget viruses... (Score:1)
try
mainbiohandler;
except
on E: EBioError do
begin
DeliverTranks;
PhoneHome('We''re hosed man! '+E.Message);
end;
end;
I can't be worried.
Greatest advantage of human computers (Score:1)
Cool ... (Score:2)
Don't tell Microsoft, or pretty soon we'll all be crashing the spin cycle.
Human upgrades, here we come! (Score:5, Funny)
New GEEK YOGURT with Enzymatic-Action (TM)! Comes in new exciting arrangements!
Now you can become a Perl expert with our Perl Programming yogurt! Comes in the convenient beer flavor!
Our new BFG2000 yogurt with Hyper-Enzymatic-Action (TM) will help you to maintain focus and alertness during those long, overnight CS or BF2 sessions! Comes in Jolt and Penguin Mint flavors!
Our C++ yogurt doesn't come in one package but instead comes in several small packages that work together!
Our Increase Your Attractiveness To Girls yogurt is still in development, but we're working on it. It's not as easy as we thought.
We've given up on our
Increase your memory with our RAM super-enzymatic yogurt! Just remember that you'll need to eat a good helping of this every year or so as life's base requirements keep increasing.
Finally, our Microsoft yogurt with BSOD enzymes with help you to learn to do new and amazing things that you've been able to do for a long time with competitors' yogurts, but now you won't have the extra expense of buying theirs! (Why, no, that's not anti-competitive. Why do you ask?)
Hey, it's Friday. Gotta have some fun.
Re:Human upgrades, here we come! (Score:4, Funny)
Would you put the yogurt of some guy named Linus in your mouth?
Re:Human upgrades, here we come! (Score:2)
Perhaps I'm cynical, but:
Marketroid #1: And the great thing is, because our clients are not able to synthesize these enzymes for themselves they will have to continually buy our yogurts to keep their skills honed since the enzymes denature and lose their ability over time.
Marketroid #2: Wouldn't it be even better if one of the by-products of the enzyme degradation was in fact toxic, so they would have
Re:Human upgrades, here we come! (Score:1)
Comment removed (Score:3, Interesting)
Paging Steve Mann! (Score:1)
Thanks Neal Stephenson (Score:2)
Re:Thanks Neal Stephenson (Score:2)
Well, I see potential (Score:1)
Worrisome, though, is the computer that you accidentally ingest that h
Re:Well, I see potential (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Well, I see potential (Score:1)
Just think about it - you wouldn't want to miss your renewal costs on your "lungputer".
Re:Well, I see potential (Score:1)
Or a twist for tv show plots: "This man will die unless we can get him to an ATM!"
Re:Well, I see potential (Score:1)
On another note, once we are able to measure biological signs, select a medicine, and distribute that medicine all from within a living part of the human body, what's to stop us from using that to artificially create happiness and sadness, and use these
imagine... (Score:2)
Omg.. (Score:1)
"Protein engineering" is much more interesting! Customly made proteins which perform specific operations in the body of an organism.
fascinating (Score:2)
Now, with that out of the way: i'm wondering whether this can be turned to practical application in the near future with cancer treatments. How far away is this?
And what happens if the markers used go awry? How easy would it be to end up with the wrong dose in the wrong place? I know if this were being used on me, i'd only agree to be an 'early adopter' in one of two circumstances- illness with a high risk of fatality, in which case the risks of treatment woul
Re:fascinating (Score:2)
Or alternately,
"In Soviet Russia, Matrix lives inside YOU!"
Overclocking gone wrong.... (Score:1)
Need torrent! (Score:2)
Re:Need torrent! (Score:2)
Wow... some once-tech terms can get really dirty when mixed with real people. Especially considering where your options to connect the monitor are.
And The Singularity Draws Ever More Near (Score:1)
I mean, if you thought Spanish Fly and Roofies were a big deal on college campuses, just wait till you have people tailoring these substances to programmatically alter a woman's body chemistry in a way which makes the average Slashdot geek irresistable to all of the women on the planet.
Battlestar (Score:2)
Re:Battlestar (Score:1)
Chemical DeCSS (Score:2)
If i make a body part of mine run DeCSS and the Motion Picture Assho^H^Hociation of America® hears about it, will DMCA allow them to amputate it?
Outside the body first... (Score:2)
And
In Soviet Russia... (Score:2)
***Runtime Error 200 - Division by Zero***
two words (Score:1)
Re:two words (Score:2)
--
Q
Enzyme systems to study cellular systems - Neat! (Score:1)
The complexity of biochemical pathways has to do with differential concentrations of substrates and products. These enzyme logic systems sound like they have the potential to "light up" cascades of cellular "output". Very cool tools, from a research perspective.
Perhaps this technology could be used to examine some of these pathways in more detail: Cellular metabolism - gluconeogenesis [wikipedia.org], citric acid cycle [wikipedia.org], stuff going on in mitochondria and chloroplasts, diabetes [wikipedia.org], etc.
Ca
The body's pretty a hot place, so... (Score:1)
Horseradish? (Score:1)
the problem i see is... (Score:1)
Win ME? (Score:1)
How many new users will attempt to install DOS programs on their new biological operating system. After all, the programs are supported by Windows ME.
I want to see the first enzyme brain logger... now you can't even think about your password without being vulnerable.
Spyware Bio Edition: It not only knows what websites you've been too, it knows what you've eaten for dinner.
Sales line: "Not only can it balance your checkbook, it can also brush
Threshold Switching? (Score:2)
Suppose a drug is implemented and given an enzymatic computer to trigger when it should be released. How do we know this will work across all of human physiology given the aforementioned factors that can alter the threshold of execution?
I'm skeptical that about this idea, but curious about how it co
"Ba-dump *chink*" (Score:2)
Obligatory (Score:1, Redundant)
I've got nothing.
the world of synthetic biology (Score:2, Informative)
From the FAQ:
Excuse me, but you're already a DNA computer (Score:2, Interesting)
Forget the why, we're already lousy at that bit. Why not? If there's a gain for little loss, nature tends to grasp and experiment along those courses. An RNA computer that computes and records in next-gen DNA is an ultimatley sensible thing for Nature to do. Not that hard either.
Never mind the gigantic neural hash loo
Missing the point (Score:2, Insightful)
-Imagine your cells in a certain organ system alerting you that the concentration of a needed medicine has fallen too low.
-Someone with Diabetes could get a read out of sugar concentrations without taking a blood sample.
From the art
Investment opportunities (Score:2)
Re:Logical sequencing? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Logical sequencing? (Score:2)
XOR(a,TRUE) == NOT(a)
You don't need two types of gates.
NAND gates alone are logically complete.
NOT(a) == NAND(a,a)
AND(a,b) == (NOT(NAND(a,b)))
OR(a,b) == (NAND(NOT(a),NOT(b)))
Re:Logical sequencing? (Score:2)
For those that care, binary addition of A and B into C1 and C0 is C0=AND(OR(A,B),NOT(AND(A,B))), C1=AND(a,b)
Re:Logical sequencing? (Score:1)
Re:Logical sequencing? (Score:1)
While in truth this isn't completely stable, it's still the best we're ever going to do in biological reprogramming, so we need to start the work sometime. Sure beats having to rely on EM sensitive devices all the time.
Re:Soylent PC (Score:1)