DNA computing targets West Nile Virus, other deadly diseases

Computers that process information using DNA instead of silicon chips could one day lead to faster, more accurate tests for diagnosing West Nile Virus, bird flu and other diseases, according to a team of researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York and the University of New Mexico. To demonstrate the potential of this technology, the team developed a prototype DNA computer, named MAYA-II, that plays a complete game of tic-tac-toe. Shown in the foreground is a cell-culture plate containing pieces of DNA that code for possible 'moves.' A display screen (background) shows that the computer (red squares) has won the game against a human opponent (blue). Credit: Photo courtesy of Columbia University Medical Center