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Japanese boffins have created artificial DNA that could one day be part of green computers running on little or even no power. Datamonitor's Ruchi Mallya suggests the Univeristy of Toyama's research could bring to reality a computer that ditches traditional silicon and works on DNA instead.
Mallya says the DNA would work as the software and the enzymes would act as hardware. The green bit comes in from the DNA running on internal energy "produced during cellular reactions." The result would be a very low PC or even a laptop that didn't require batteries.
Sound far fetched? Mallya admits that "DNA computers will not be replacing today's standard PCs anytime soon" but is confident it could one day become reality.
While my SmartPlanet money is still on Al Gore saving the planet faster than DNA computers, a switch from silicon PCs to DNA ones could have one unexpected side effect: cheap solar panels. Since most solar panel cells use silicon to convert the sun's energy into electricity, a fall in demand for computing silicon might dramatically cut the price of solar panels. And that *could* save the planet.
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