Biological transistors allow living cells to act as a computer

(biological transistors) are the key component behind genetic logic gates - and are equivalent to transistors in electronics," says the researcher leading the study, Jerome Bonnet,

A team of biological engineers from Stanford University took the field of computing one step further, and created a transistor that works inside living cells. In fact the cell itself constitutes the biological transistor. Their research was recently published in the scientific journal Science. The biological transistor is made of genetic material - DNA and RNA - instead of electronic components.

"Transcribers (biological transistors) are the key component behind genetic logic gates - and they are equivalent to transistors in electronics," says the researcher leading the study Jerome Bonnet, who published the article as part of his post-doctorate in bioengineering.

The creation of transcriptors allows engineers to perform calculations inside the living cell in order to record, for example, when the cells have been sufficiently exposed to certain substances in their environment, or to examine environmental characteristics, and they even allow the cell culture to be turned on and off as needed.
"Biological computers can be used to learn about programming living systems, monitoring their environment and improving cell treatment," says Drew Randy, a university professor who participated in the research.

In the field of electronics, the role of the transistor is to control the flow of electrons within the electrical circuit. Similarly, in biology the role of the transcriptionist is to control the flow of a certain protein, while it moves on top of the DNA.

to the notice of the researchers