Is it Possible to Build Computers from Living Cells?

Building a computer out of living cells may sound like science fiction, but the foundations of such a technology are already being laid down. In the last 25 years we have seen astounding developments in microelectronics and computation, but even the most modern computers still have their weaknesses. First of all, current computer technology is fast approaching the limits of its capabilities, so there is considerable interest in finding newer, better technologies. Also, with current computers, a single fault in one circuit or a single line error in a program can cause the entire computer system to fail because these models rely heavily on the perfection of their parts and programming to function. In contrast, biological systems demonstrate remarkable robustness. For example, simple and potentially faulty cells cooperate to form incredibly complex structures during embryological development, which are subsequently well maintained. For computer engineers, there are clearly important lessons to b