Saturday, July 30, 2011

Scientists create DNA ‘brain’ in a test tube

Raw Story

A research team at the California Institute of Technology has created an artificial neural network which is capable of solving a puzzle that involves identifying which of four pioneering IT scientists -- Rosalind Franklin, Alan Turing, Claude Shannon, and Santiago Ramon y Cajal -- is described by a series of yes/no questions.

DNA molecules were used to form four artificial neurons in test tubes, with each strange of DNA being programmed to interact with other strands in a manner similar to the firing of natural neurons in living creatures. At its best, the network was able to answer questions even when it had only incomplete information...[Full Article]