Human might carry microscopic natural computers inside their cells that could guard against disease and warn of toxic threats. A team of engineers at Stanford university has invented genetic transistors, completing a simple computer within a living cell, a major step forward in the emerging field of synthetic biology. ‘Living computers’ inside the human body would be able to screen for cancer, detect toxic chemicals or even turn cell reproduction on and off. They say:
The computers could deliver true-false answers to virtually any biological question that might be posed within a cell. For instance: Is toxic mercury present? It could detect it.
Also: They can count. This would be a useful tool when treating diseases like cancer, where cells divide uncontrollably. Suppose a liver cell carries a counter that records how many times it divides. Once the counter hits 500, for instance, the cell could be programmed to die.
Wow! I want it inside my cells right now. Really.
So many things have been revolutionized. Scientists have been talking about biological computer and I have been dreaming about it for more than a decade. I wish synthetic biology could be revolutionized in my lifetime. I know this sounds unrealistic. I would probably be little sad if I have to die before using a little magical computer.