DNA nanobots can exponentially self-replicate
www.newscientist.com
Tiny machines made from strands of DNA can build copies of themselves, leading to exponential replication. Similar devices could one day be used to create drugs inside the body

DNA nanobots can exponentially self-replicate: Tiny machines made from strands of DNA can build copies of themselves, leading to exponential replication. Similar devices could one day be used to cr…::Tiny machines made from strands of DNA can build copies of themselves, leading to exponential replication. Similar devices could one day be used to create drugs inside the body

  • uservoid1@lemmy.worldEnglish
    39·
    11 months ago

    Because of this the reaction will not work outside of carefully controlled laboratory conditions, ruling out apocalyptic scenarios where the process runs away and destroys all available DNA by building versions of itself with it.

    This isn’t something that’s taking over the world just yet

    So there’s always that kind of uncertainty; you think you can build safeguards in, but they’re not necessarily a guarantee that it will be safe

    Very reassuring, nothing to worry about

    • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      6·
      11 months ago

      You could also have a copycat funded by terrorists or whatever. Just because they build safeguards doesn’t mean the next person will. Fun.

      • ThoGot@lemm.eeEnglish
        3·
        11 months ago

        It’s not that they built safeguards but probably more that replication is finicky and you need these specific conditions for it to work at all
        (but I don’t have access to the cited paper)