The incorporation of synthetic DNA into electronics is changing the way neuromorphic computing works and is a new way to address the rising energy costs associated with current artificial intelligence. Integrating molecularly engineered DNA sequences with quasi-2D perovskite semiconductor materials allows researchers to create ‘memristors’ or memory resistors based on the brain’s ability to form new memories through synaptic plasticity. DNA provides a very high density of data, at 215 petabytes of information stored per gram; Therefore devices built using DNA hybridization and synthesized using ultra-low voltages less than 0.1 volts have both processing capability and memory on a single device. Using both processing and memory on a single device results in a substantial (i.e., 100-fold) reduction in energy usage, creating a robust, scalable model for the next generation of energy-efficient, high-capacity supercomputers.
DNA is powering the next generation of supercomputers
Standard computing is approaching a ‘thermodynamic limit’, and synthetic DNA in the form of a programmable nanomaterial would be the answer. According to a journal published in the Wiley Online Library, when silver ions are mixed with synthetic DNA and in combination with perovskite, the resulting synthetic DNA (i.e. DNA) forms a stable conductive pathway for high-density storage. These devices are memristors, which can retain memory (data) in the same way as neurons do in biological systems without requiring constant power.
Why is DNA the key to sustainable computing?
With the continued expansion of artificial intelligence, the energy required to transfer data on standard chips will become much greater. Studies funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) are demonstrating that biological systems have an advantage over contemporary chip architectures when it comes to parallel processing. Computing with DNA-enhanced processing (i.e. DNA-based computers) will enable multiple input processing with up to 90 percent less energy overhead than conventional non-volatile memory.
mass density advantage of DNA
The biggest advantage of DNA is its spatial efficiency. As cited in NIH studies, DNA has the ability to store data at a density several million times greater than silicon. This will have a tremendous impact on future supercomputers as the physical footprint of data centers is reduced, while also increasing the reliability of long (cold) data storage through the chemical stability of synthetic DNA strands.
Bioelectronics are designed to withstand extreme temperatures of 121 degrees Celsius
Bioelectronics face performance limitations due to fragility; However, research has recently announced that a combination of synthetic DNA and perovskite can tolerate extreme temperatures of 121 °C (250 °F) and therefore enable the design of DNA-powered electronics that will withstand the thermal demands of high-performance supercomputers, allowing their potential to provide an alternative to the current semiconductor industry.