Scientists create biological transistors.

Scientists from Stanford University have found a way to create a computer like mechanism inside living cells.
Using genetic material, the scientists created a biological transistor inside E.coli bacteria. They believe biological transistors could be used to reprogram living systems such as gene expression.

Computer transistors regulate the flow of electrons along metal wires to process calculations.

The biological equivalent, which scientists have named a transcriptor, controls the flow of enzymes along a strand of DNA.

One of the authors of the study, Jerome Bonnet said: “In the longer term we hope biocomputers can be used to study and reprogram living systems and improve cellular therapeutics.”

The same team of researchers has been working on a biocomputer system that includes a genetic DNA data storage system. And also a way to transmit genetic information between cells, comparable to a biological internet.

All of their research has been contributed to the public domain, in order to promote the field of biotechnology.

Bonnet said: “Most of biotechnology has not yet been imagined, let alone made true. By freely sharing important basic tools everyone can work better together.”