Robotics

DNA-folding nanorobots can manufacture limitless copies of themselves

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Tiny nano-robots have been developed that can grab tiny snippets of DNA and assemble them into new nano-machines – including copies of themselves
AI-generated image by DALL-E
Tiny nano-robots have been developed that can grab tiny snippets of DNA and assemble them into new nano-machines – including copies of themselves
AI-generated image by DALL-E
Three-dimensional self-replicating nano-robots built from just four strands of DNA
Feng Zhou

Researchers have demonstrated a programmable nano-scale robot, made from a few strands of DNA, that's capable of grabbing other snippets of DNA, and positioning them together to manufacture new UV-welded nano-machines – including copies of itself.

The robots, according to New Scientist, are created using just four strands of DNA, and measure just 100 nanometers across, so about a thousand of them could squeeze up into a line the width of a human hair.

The team, from New York University, the Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomechanical Engineering, and The Chinese Academy of Sciences, says the robots surpass previous efforts, which were only able to assemble pieces into two-dimensional shapes. The new bots are able to use "multiple-axis precise folding and positioning" to "access the third dimension and more degrees of freedom."

These nano-bots are often viewed as potential ways of manufacturing drugs, enzymes and other chemicals, potentially inside the cells of the body. But the researchers specifically call out the fact that these machines can "self-replicate its entire 3D structure and functions."

Three-dimensional self-replicating nano-robots built from just four strands of DNA
Feng Zhou

They're not entirely self-contained; the robots, while "programmable," act in response to externally controlled temperature and UV light, and they require that UV light to "weld" the pieces of DNA they're assembling together.

One other thing standing between humanity and the great Gray Goo apocalypse at this point is the fact that they can't make copies of themselves – or indeed, anything else – without adequate supplies of the precise snippets of DNA they need.

Still, it's pretty incredible stuff, and a glimpse into the possibilities that are rushing toward us at breakneck pace. Is this what living through the Singularity feels like?

Source: Science Robotics

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8 comments
notarichman
One more step closer to "mining nano-robots" that could be sent in a tiny rocket to an asteroid. provide a storage can of DNA and a power source and it's "go".
Arandor
Have these scientists never watched Stargate SG-1. I'll file this article under "Potential Threats: Replicators".
stevendkaplan
Isn’t a DNA robot basically a virus or bacteria?
CitizenOfEarth
makes me think of the start of Prometheus where the "Alien" drank that stuff and it broke down and rebuilt its DNA. maybe you could "drink" this stuff and be turned into...??? LOL
Treon Verdery
DNA has a deoxyribose sugar at it sides, and CNOH nucleotides as its rungs, either or those of these can be replaced with other molecules and element atoms like germanium or silicon replacing C to give customized very high durability, metabolic enzyme resistance, and greater function.
Treon Verdery
Notarichman, I like your idea. Fun to notice your user name could also say Notar Ich Man (man of making making/recording notes)
WillyDoodle
A first step to repairing the misfolded proteins that are Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease?
Brian
This seems a bit dangerous for humanity.