DNA Can Be Used for Pattern Recognition

In a recent paper, researchers were able to use the properties of DNA self-assembly to classify images. First, they encoded an image into DNA tiles. Then they used self-assembly to generate the shape of a letter that corresponded to an input image. The image classification which was 80% accurate.

Biophysical processes happen all the time in our body and seeing how something as simple as DNA can perform complex calculations is fascinating. In a weird way, it’s easier to understand how these systems work by transposing what we would typically think of as computer algorithms into biophysical processes.

From Nature Vol 625.

See also:

  • DNA as Durable Storage

    DNA is by far the most dense storage medium that we know of. One gram of DNA can hold 10MM hours of high definition video.