Scientists turn bacteria into 'living processors' for computers

Scientists are turning bacteria into 'living processors', opening up new directions for biological computing. The technology promises to change the way we calculate, save energy and expand applications in medicine and the environment.

Scientists experiment with bacteria into computer processors

Scientists are exploring the possibility of turning bacteria into “living processors,” a new direction in the field of biological computing. Instead of relying entirely on silicon chips, this technology leverages life itself to calculate, process, and react to data.

This is considered an important step forward, which could open an era of more sustainable and energy-saving computing.

How does a "living processor" work?

Accordingly, the traditional, based on electricity and transistors, has become the pillar of the modern world . However, a promising direction has just emerged, which is the living processor. Instead of using artificial materials, this technology exploits the life of bacteria to process information, opening up a completely new concept of computing.

By inserting specially designed pieces of DNA into bacteria, scientists have turned them into "biological logic circuits." When given an input signal, such as the presence of a chemical, these bacteria respond by glowing or carrying out other biological transformations.

These reactions are equivalent to the “on” or “off” states in traditional electronic circuits, allowing bacteria to perform basic calculations.

Although a single bacterial cell has limited computational capabilities, when millions of bacteria are programmed similarly and operate simultaneously, they form a giant information processing network that acts like a biological supercomputer.

The key difference here is that this entire information processing does not consume electrical energy, but relies entirely on the natural reactions of life.

This unique mechanism gives living processors several advantages over silicon chips. The bacteria's ability to self-replicate allows for the number of "processors" to be automatically increased without the need for costly manufacturing. Furthermore, they consume extremely low energy, an important factor in the trend toward sustainable computing.

In particular, bacteria are able to operate in harsh environments that electronic chips cannot, such as inside the human body, where they can detect early signs of disease and respond quickly.

With these huge potentials, living processors are expected to not only complement but also open up a completely new direction for computing technology, besides the dominance of silicon chips for decades.

Challenges and prospects in the era of biocomputing

Despite its promise, the technology still faces significant challenges. Biological reactions are much slower than electronic pulses, making it difficult to match the processing speed of silicon chips.

In addition, the living environment of bacteria is always changing, making it difficult to control and ensure the stability of the system.

This is why many experts believe that "living processors" are unlikely to completely replace traditional chips in the near future. Instead, they will become complementary tools, used in areas where electronic computers cannot operate.

Looking further, this technology marks the fusion of biology and digital technology , expanding the concept of computing beyond circuit boards and transistors.

If research continues to progress, a new era of biocomputing may emerge, where life and technology merge, offering energy-saving, environmentally friendly solutions that extend artificial intelligence in a completely different way.

Potential applications in medicine and life

One of the most exciting prospects for “living processors” is their potential application in personalized medicine. Programmed bacteria could be introduced into the body to monitor for signs of disease and automatically respond when abnormalities are detected.

For example, a “computational” bacterium could detect chemical changes in the blood and trigger an alert response or even release a drug molecule in real time. This opens up the possibility of proactive healthcare, rather than just detecting and treating disease after symptoms have appeared.

Beyond medicine, the researchers also predict that the “living processor” could be used in environmental management, such as detecting pollution or monitoring natural ecosystems.

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Tuan Vi

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cac-nha-khoa-hoc-bien-vi-khuyen-thanh-bo-xu-ly-song-cho-may-tinh-20250905110939843.htm