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See the original image at dsc.discovery.com —

Living Bacteria-Run Computer Solves Math Puzzle

dsc.discovery.com — A new living computer, bred from E. coli bacteria instead of stamped from silica, has for the first time successfully solved a classic mathematical puzzle known as the Burnt Pancake Problem.

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  • rpi22, on 05/29/2008, -9/+8342
    • RedMoonGenie, on 05/30/2008, -6/+2http://www.chiphi-pi.org/b2b/pics/Ficus_Spray_Wth_ ...
    • djdole, on 05/30/2008, -5/+4So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish!
      I've got MY towel, you have yours?
      • tehbored, on 05/30/2008, -0/+2Oh ***** last Sunday was Towel Day!
    • PaulOwen, on 05/30/2008, -0/+5"So far the computer has only solved a two-pancake problem which, admittedly, isn't terribly difficult. Creating bacteria that can solve the Burnt Pancake Problem using multiple pancakes will be difficult, said Haynes."

      Ah. I see. That's not quite so impressive. Probably why they put that on the second page ...
  • leontes, on 05/30/2008, -12/+17It's pretty creepy this now forming fusion between technology and biology. Biocomputers etc. When we are able to recreate the biological foundations that make animals and manufacture muscle, neurons and what-have you to create purposeful designs, there will be no limit to what kind of monster we'll be able to create. Frankenstein's monster was created in the form of man, using parts of man and powered by electricity. When we can use flesh, to make form of the part of machines, powered by biology, a new kind of creature will emerge. It's all quite freaky and science fictiony and it makes e shudder to consider the implications.
    • Workster, on 05/30/2008, -2/+27By creepy you obviously meant it's totally awesome that we can do all this with bacteria,right?
    • notanidiot, on 05/30/2008, -0/+6Hmmm,... living computers. Time for the next step in evolution. The Age of Aquarius is on us, and the bacteria will finally rise to wash away all the people who want to blow things up and destroy our world, leaving only peaceful loving people, who will in turn teach the bacteria how to play spades and stuff.
      • Hillyard, on 05/30/2008, -0/+2And then we will go into outer space and come back to a planet only later to find out it was Earth all along.
    • okaroleo, on 05/30/2008, -0/+2I for one welcome E. coli math problem solving overlords. Go Kang!
    • Iztikeit, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1It isn't creepy, it's science. Biology, computing and, essentially, all forms of science are becoming more and more connected, which simply means greater advancements, quicker advancements and other sweetness.
  • Testies, on 05/30/2008, -21/+11Yeah, but can it make Windows Vista not suck so much?
    • djdole, on 05/30/2008, -3/+8Can it make Macs not so cult-like creepy?
      • Testies, on 05/30/2008, -0/+3I think bacteria are smart enough not to fight that battle.
        Are you?
    • PabloMac, on 05/30/2008, -5/+2It can't make it suck worse. Oh, wait, Windoze 7 isn't out yet.
  • sevvo, on 05/30/2008, -13/+46I, for one, welcome our bacteria-based overlords!
    • SAc0balt, on 05/30/2008, -11/+3Stop. This stupid phrase stopped being funny a very long time ago.
    • furly37, on 05/30/2008, -5/+2Maybe it is old for someone who doesn't appreciate the genius that is the Simpsons.
    • smek2, on 05/30/2008, -0/+3"This stupid phrase stopped being funny a very long time ago." -- i'll take a good ol' Simpsons quote over the "internet meme of the day" anytime.
  • hokie47, on 05/30/2008, -1/+62But what happens if you get a virus?
    • directrix13, on 05/30/2008, -3/+23Well, the virus injects its genetic material inside of your computer cells. This then reprograms the cell into becoming a factory for the virus. Eventually the cell explodes and the process continues in the neighboring vulnerable cells. So really, it changes nothing on the computer front or biological front. Standard virus propagation.
      • leerayIG88, on 05/30/2008, -1/+9What this this magic? Witch! Burn!!
    • Risingashes, on 05/30/2008, -3/+2Standard operating procedure.
    • MasterThief117, on 05/30/2008, -6/+1You will get triganosis.
      Har har har har...
    • technonoob, on 05/30/2008, -2/+1you give it penicilin
      • pckbeta, on 05/30/2008, -0/+2Penicillin kills bacteria not viruses. That's the biological equivalent of shooting your cpu with a .45 to get rid of a virus. It's still on your hard drive and now you don't have a computer.
    • Arasaka, on 05/30/2008, -0/+2A bacteria based computer should be more afraid of anti-biotics than virii
    • mrpleco, on 05/30/2008, -0/+11) Antibiotics don't do crap against viruses.

      2) Viruses aren't the problem with this computer. PHAGES are the problem. (thank you Michael Crichton)
    • mrpleco, on 05/30/2008, -0/+11) Antibiotics don't do crap against viruses.

      2) Viruses aren't the problem with this computer. PHAGES are the problem. (thank you Michael Crichton)
      • aptanalogy, on 05/31/2008, -0/+1No: A bacteriophage (from 'bacteria' and Greek phagein, 'to eat') is any one of a number of VIRUSES that infect bacteria.
    • smek2, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1Simple, just don't run Windows on DNA-based computers.... ok, that was a lame joke.
  • OSuX, on 05/30/2008, -8/+61Yes, but will it run Crysis?
  • GiJoeBob, on 05/30/2008, -13/+3"This won't make your Xbox run faster," said Knight.

    Well then what's the point?
  • RubineBoy, on 05/30/2008, -3/+54There was probably just one smart ass E. coli amongst them who solved it all by himself turning everyone into a hero.
  • TJATL, on 05/30/2008, -3/+9E. Coli? I have to wash my hands after I use the computer now cause it's just like wiping my ass?
    • SSUK, on 05/30/2008, -1/+8You'd be surprised at the bacteria on your keyboard and desk...
    • Scynet, on 05/30/2008, -1/+2Indeed, using a keyboard for a tiny moment is already far worse than wiping your ass. In fact, I bet you could wipe without paper and still be cleaner.
      • Pstmann, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1Hey, maybe your keyboard.
        Some of us actually clean our ( keyboard ) regularly.

        * *looks for bottle of alcohol to wipe keyboard**
        • ComradeGoby, on 05/30/2008, -0/+2Your immune system is weaker, ha!
  • usgovterrorists, on 05/30/2008, -3/+1Is this Darwin's Evolution from silicon?
  • RedMoonGenie, on 05/30/2008, -2/+9One step closer to a robot cooking my breakfast.
  • tulpe, on 05/30/2008, -4/+10"In the computer, the proteins make a bacterium resistant to antibiotics and keep it alive -- but only if it solves the problem."

    making bacteria immune to antibiotics sounds like a really great idea to me... Oo
    Will someone please think of the children!?
  • pckbeta, on 05/30/2008, -5/+10Buried because I need a faster xbox.
  • SQFreak, on 05/30/2008, -2/+11Davidson COLLEGE!!! Not University, College! Grr...

    I was somewhat involved in this project.
    • Hillyard, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1So what's the low down on this project?
    • rwald, on 05/31/2008, -0/+1Having read your paper, I can feel your pain; I was involved in similar research a few years back, but technique problems prevented me from getting anything publishable. Nice work on the HinC site; these sorts of recombinations have interesting implications with, for example, letting bacteria choose the best way to construct a given genetic network, by creating all permutations on their own.
  • ApokalypseNow, on 05/30/2008, -1/+16Living computers, quantum computers, next thing we'll just have Schroedinger's Computer, which may or may not be alive in its little box, but has already solved the problem.
  • cerejota, on 05/30/2008, -11/+2 _ o88888o
    _.-""8o_o88888888D
    "'"""88888" _ o88888o
    _.-""8o_o88888888D
    "'"""88888"
    _ o88888o
    _.-""8o_o88888888D _ o88888o
    "'"""88888" _.-""8o_o88888888D
    "'"""88888"
    _ o88888o
    _.-""8o_o88888888D
    "'"""88888"

    YOU HEARD IT BOYS, WE CAN BE CYBORGS!
    • talonstriker, on 05/30/2008, -1/+6WTF is that supposed to be?
    • belthesar, on 05/30/2008, -0/+4When will people learn that ASCII art is only for fixed character with applications?
      • ultrafez, on 05/30/2008, -0/+5Still makes no sense even in fixed width characters.
  • Mr.Gone, on 05/30/2008, -3/+1Just wait till it figures out it can melt our organ tissue after you slam down your mouse (.... err well touch screen according to Bill Gates) one too many times.
  • chrisduser, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1Nothing like contracting a strain of mathematical computing E. coli. Sign me up!
    • manu3l, on 05/30/2008, -0/+3Be prepared for a couple of days of nonstop diarrhea - bloody diarrhea. Bloody diarrhea lasts for 2 to 5 days.

      -take me off your list, please.
  • indiansfred, on 05/30/2008, -3/+4When it can figure out what all those stupid charges are on my phone bill, then perhaps we'll talk.
  • AndrewDB, on 05/30/2008, -4/+15Burnt Pancake Problem?.. Geeze even I could of told them to turn down the heat on the skillet.
  • 9bpm9, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1I don't know if this is good or bad.
  • haid, on 05/30/2008, -3/+3Solve a problem? I think not. Since the evolution is not directed, it is simply random. But sure, some random answers will be solutions.

    This is not a problem solver, it is a random number generator.
    • rory2267, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1yea, surely it has to know the answer already, and when it generates the answer randomly, it would have to have a computer to tell it that it was right?
    • rwald, on 05/31/2008, -0/+2In this case, they didn't use any sort of evolutionary algorithm. They basically put the bacteria in the wrong state, gave them the ability to randomly flip states, and waited. In principle, they would know exactly how long each flip takes; by timing how long it takes before some bacteria enters the right state, they could tell how many flips are necessary. This didn't actually work out in practice (a part of their paper that didn't make the headlines), but their theory is sound.
  • baylat, on 05/30/2008, -4/+2Organic processors... transformers in the making.
  • borez, on 05/30/2008, -5/+2x-box a-live
  • notanidiot, on 05/30/2008, -2/+20One day, the bacteria will have soap to get rid of US! MWAHAHAHAHA!
    • ultrafez, on 05/30/2008, -4/+6In Soviet Russia, the bacteria get rid of you.
  • belthesar, on 05/30/2008, -1/+22Oh no, I just sneezed out my server!
  • talonstriker, on 05/30/2008, -1/+11So the next time you get into an infinite loop, the bacteria will spread out of the computer, enter your respiratory system and kill you.
  • MasterThief117, on 05/30/2008, -3/+1So, if I infected myself with this bacteria, I might get better grades...
  • ilbbaicl, on 05/30/2008, -3/+4So no more recalling E-coli infected meat. Just relabel it "Smart-Meat" and jack the price.
  • farfromsubtl, on 05/30/2008, -4/+3It's interesting what discovery chooses to leave out. I just read the press release... apparently it only solved a 2 pancake problem.
  • aMammoth, on 05/30/2008, -4/+2Why E-Coli? Why not some harmless bacteria? I'm sure theres a good scientific reason, but seems unnecessary to use an infectious bacteria.
    • Morgonslak, on 05/30/2008, -1/+8You got about 500 million E Coli bacteria in your colon right now mate.
    • zerries, on 05/30/2008, -0/+5There are many different types of E. coli. Some harmful, some not. Due to this we know a lot about E. coli so it makes for a good choice.
    • tehbored, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1E. Coli isn't exactly deadly you know.
    • rwald, on 05/31/2008, -0/+2Why use E. coli? It's the single-most-used bacteria in microbiology labs, that's why. It's easy to work with, well-understood, and harmless in a laboratory setting. Seriously, microbiology labs use two cell lines: E. Coli and S. cerevisiae (aka brewer's yeast). Complaining about E. coli is like complaining about lab rats, "because rats caused the Black Death."
  • DroppedGT, on 05/30/2008, -1/+2How do you solve a burnt pancake problem with bacteria? You let it eat it. BP+B=0 problem solved.
  • rugabug, on 05/30/2008, -2/+3Does this remind anyone else of the Cylons?
  • DroppedGT, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1I like how they refer to the amount of bacteria as "Gigs". So now there is a mass amount for intellectual data amount.
  • elhaf, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1We just published a paper about the pancake problem which Bill Gates wrote his only academic paper on. Additionally, David X. Cohen of futurama wrote his only paper about the burnt pancake problem.
  • j0eb0nd7, on 05/30/2008, -0/+2Burnt pancake problem solved by.....

    Lots of maple syrop!
  • Albion01, on 05/30/2008, -1/+1*cough* *cough*
  • anubis2night, on 05/30/2008, -1/+3This technology isn't new, in fact it looks just like it did when I first read about it, in 1990! Seriously this tech has been around that long and yet for all it's promise it is still in the same steps of development as it was 18 years ago. Hell we could have left the biology alone and it would have evolved a lot faster than the progress we've made. I was hoping for some new breakthrough. Oh and the last time I read about it they did one of those trains traveling to Chicago scenarios and it spit the answer out in a few seconds. Quite fast for the time.
  • stealthc, on 05/30/2008, -0/+2But can it run BSD?
  • Panda200x, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1Bred from E.Coli, Ever read 'Prey' by Michael Crichton.
  • fr0ng, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1That's so in tents.
  • atomicrobot, on 05/30/2008, -0/+2I have no idea what you're talking about, so here is a bunny with a burnt pancake on its head.
  • Stonekeeper, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1* HEAD ASPLODES *
  • Gioleb, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1A burnt pancake with a side of E.Coli please!
  • l800LEMMINGS, on 05/30/2008, -1/+1so you're saying if i don't wipe my ass i can have a free super computer...done
  • OSuX, on 05/30/2008, -1/+3Dude, what OS do you run?

    "E. Coli"

    Dude, that's a ***** OS.
  • smek2, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1And the best thing is, you can eat it if a new model comes out. Ok, that was a lame joke.
  • KingGorilla, on 05/30/2008, -0/+2Only two pancakes?
  • nydwarf, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1I welcome our new Bacterial Overlords!
  • rwald, on 05/31/2008, -0/+1Having read their paper, I'll make a few observations:

    1. They didn't actually manage to make their bacteria solve this problem. They designed their bacterial well (and discovered some interesting properties of the components they worked with), but due to things going wrong beyond their control, the bacteria didn't actually solve the problem; rather than the correct solutions surviving, the bacteria with correct solutions actually died with greater frequency.

    2. Even in a best-case scenario, bacterial computing is only good for massively parallel processing on simple problems. That is to say, each bacteria has ridiculously limited computing power (in this case, insufficient power to solve the two-pancake Burnt Pancake Problem), so unless you can structure a problem such that each "instance" requires almost no computation and the real work happens due to parallelization magic, this isn't a feasible mode of computation.

    3. The one exception to that is evolutionary algorithms. The one pseudocomputational task that bacteria are good at is evolving, so if you can phrase your problem such that each bacteria evolves towards the solution, and the one which survives embodies that solution, then maybe you can get some use out of bacterial computation. Just don't be surprised if the survivor did something stupid to endure instead of actually solving your problem.
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