Navigation Links
Training cells to perform Boolean functions? It's logical
Date:5/31/2012

Johns Hopkins scientists have engineered cells that behave like AND and OR Boolean logic gates, producing an output based on one or more unique inputs. This feat, published in the May issue of Nature Chemical Biology, could eventually help researchers create computers that use cells as tiny circuits.

Study leader Takanari Inoue, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Cell Biology and member of the Institute of Basic Biomedical Sciences' Center for Cell Dynamics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, explains that many researchers are striving to mimic devices in everyday use by engineering new qualities into biological materials, including biomolecules and cells. Several of those engaged in this relatively new field, known as synthetic biology, have tried to create biological computers.

At the heart of both the biological and the more everyday silicon-based variety of computers are Boolean logic gates, which produce responses that vary depending on what type and how many inputs they receive. For example, AND gates need two unique inputs to generate an output. In contrast, OR gates generate an output based on whether they receive one input, or another, or both.

Inoue says that previous research has shown some success in generating logic gates based on biomolecules in test tubes or petri dishes. However, he adds, developing logic gates using whole cells has proven significantly trickier. Most previous efforts have taken advantage of cells' transcriptional machinery the cellular processes that read genes to create proteins to generate an output signal. But transcription can be a slow process, taking from minutes to days to produce the desired response.

"People like to have speedy computation," Inoue says. "We were hoping to achieve computation in cells on the order of seconds, which is significantly faster than what people have achieved thus far."

To accomplish their goal, the resear
'/>"/>

Contact: Audrey Huang
audrey@jhmi.edu
410-614-5105
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Researchers develop new self-training gene prediction program for fungi
2. NC State takes lead in crime scene investigation training
3. National and international doctoral training
4. Virtual reality: Keyhole surgeons training could help meet European working time directives
5. Biophysical sciences program receives $2 million training grant
6. Building strong bones: Running may provide more benefits than resistance training, MU study finds
7. Stimulus-funded university research addressing issues from climate change to cancer, creating jobs and training a new generation of scientists
8. Concordia University to build innovative centre for health research and training
9. Kent State receives $2.7 million NSF training grant for environmental aquatic resource sensing
10. Rockefeller Foundation supports expansion, training of e-health work force in developing world
11. Less is more when restraining calories boosts immunity
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/23/2013)... be the world,s most popular fruit, can be made ... purple GM varieties. , "Working with GM tomatoes ... addition of a specific compound, allows us to pinpoint ... Cathie Martin from the John Innes Centre. , The ... flavour, health and shelf life characteristics because even higher ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... tight wrapping of genomic DNA around nucleosomes in ... expression. A team of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich ... to be locally displaced from nucleosomes for transcription. ... stored in the cell nucleus, wrapped around disk-shaped ... of four different histone proteins and accommodating two ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... the world are billions of animal and plant specimens ... grasses, all stacked, stored and preserved in jars and ... be critical to understanding how the Earth,s biodiversity is ... if only the information were easily accessible. , ... help of a team from the University of Colorado ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):The world's favorite fruit only better-tasting and longer-lasting 2Biochemistry: Unspooling DNA from nucleosomal disks 2CU-Boulder helps tap crowds to digitize museum records of bugs and plants 2CU-Boulder helps tap crowds to digitize museum records of bugs and plants 3CU-Boulder helps tap crowds to digitize museum records of bugs and plants 4
... in managing digital risk and uncovering digital evidence has helped ... fuel and accelerate the company,s growth. "This investment ... time," says Eric Friedberg , Co-President of Stroz ... to expand to key markets in the U.S., Europe, the ...
... Tech Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Rolf Mueller ... China , considered China,s highest honor for "foreign experts who ... progress." Zhang Dejiang, vice-premier of China, made the ... of the People in Beijing. Mueller was also the invited ...
... issue of the Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden ... family, a group that is related to the sandalwoods ... Hondurodendron , is endemic to Honduras and means "tree ... , a New Monotypic Genus of Aptandraceae from Honduras," ...
Cached Biology News:Stroz Friedberg Amplifying Growth with $115MM New Mountain Capital Investment 2Stroz Friedberg Amplifying Growth with $115MM New Mountain Capital Investment 3Stroz Friedberg Amplifying Growth with $115MM New Mountain Capital Investment 4Virginia Tech's Mueller receives friendship award from China 2Missouri Botanical Garden researcher discover new genus 2Missouri Botanical Garden researcher discover new genus 3
(Date:5/23/2013)... , May 23, 2013 Venaxis, Inc. (Nasdaq: ... focused on obtaining FDA clearance and commercializing its rapid, ... the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 10,000,000 ... purchase 3,500,000 shares of its common stock at an ... public offering price of $1.25 per share and related ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... Graphite Metallizing Corporation announces a series ... stainless steel pillow blocks. This series combines the ... application and installation versatility of pillow blocks. , ... exceptionally well when submerged in water, water-soluble chemicals ... acids, alkalies, hydrocarbons, black liquor, and liquid gases. ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... BROWNSBURG, Ind. , May 23, 2013  Rahal ... leader in human cord blood stem cell banking and ... sponsor of the No. 16 Acorn Stairlifts Indy car ... is for the remainder of the IZOD IndyCar 2013 ... Racing (RLL) will work to support awareness of umbilical ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 2013 VG Energy, an agricultural biotech ... Renewable Research to conduct field trials using LipidMax ... is a majority owned subsidiary of VG Life ... Energy,s exclusively licensed compound LipidMax selectively inhibits certain ... plants, possessing a wide variety of applications including ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Venaxis Announces Pricing of Offering of Common Stock and Warrants 2Venaxis Announces Pricing of Offering of Common Stock and Warrants 3Graphite Metallizing Now Offers GRAPHALLOY® Stainless Steel Pillow Blocks for Success in Submersible Applications 2Graphite Metallizing Now Offers GRAPHALLOY® Stainless Steel Pillow Blocks for Success in Submersible Applications 3StemCyte, Inc. Joins Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing As Associate Sponsor Of No. 16 IndyCar Program For James Jakes Beginning With The 97th Indianapolis 500 2StemCyte, Inc. Joins Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing As Associate Sponsor Of No. 16 IndyCar Program For James Jakes Beginning With The 97th Indianapolis 500 3VG Energy Enters into a Strategic Alliance with DAK Renewable Research for LipidMax Field Trials 2VG Energy Enters into a Strategic Alliance with DAK Renewable Research for LipidMax Field Trials 3
... Sept. 15 BioMed Realty Trust, Inc.,(NYSE: BMR ) ... quarter 2008 dividend of $0.335 per share of common stock. ... common share., BioMed also announced that its board of ... company,s 7.375% Series A Cumulative,Redeemable Preferred Stock for the period ...
... (NYSE: SYK ) announced that it will host ... p.m., Eastern Time, to discuss the,Company,s operating results for ... update. Operating results for the quarter ended,September 30, 2008 ... To participate in the conference call dial 800-299-9630 (domestic) ...
... Fougera, a division of Nycomed,US Inc., today announced ... The generic formulation compares to Taro,s Referenced Listed ... tubes (NDC # 0168-0133-15), 30g tubes,(NDC # 0168-0133-30) ... approval of Clotrimazole Cream is another illustration of,Fougera,s ...
Cached Biology Technology:BioMed Realty Trust Declares Third Quarter 2008 Common Stock and Preferred Stock Dividends 2Stryker to Host Conference Call on October 16, 2008 2
BD BioCoat Laminin 150 mm Culture Dishes...
MAb to Desmoplakin I & II Desmoplakin I & II...
...
BD Primaria 35 mm Cell Culture Dish with Easy-Grip design, surface-modified polystyrene for enhanced cell culture. (20/sp, 200/ca) Packaging: 20 / sleeve, 500 / case ...
Biology Products: