Finding energy efficient ways for all human activities is a must need step towards serving the nature, and our scientists have been working on achieving success in their projects. Now, a team of scientists from Canada’s McGill University has developed a low power consuming biological supercomputer that can process like any other supercomputers, quickly and accurately using parallel networks.

When compared to current supercomputers, the size of the model biological supercomputer is much smaller, but consumes much less energy by using proteins from all living cells within them to work, according to researchers. They’ve also noted that Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) available in the human body could also work as the power source for the next generation bio-supercomputers. ATP is a substance in our bodies that provides energy to all the cells in our bodies.

Dan Nocolau Sr. from McGill University has begun working on this idea of biological supercomputer with his son Dan Jr. over a decade ago. Later, his colleagues from Germany, The Netherlands and Sweden joined them about seven years ago. Dan said in a statement:

“We’ve managed to create a very complex network in a very small area. This started as a back of an envelope idea, after too much rum I think, with drawings of what looked like small worms exploring mazes.”

Scientists combined their nano engineering knowledge and geometrical modelling to build the prototype of biological supercomputer. Although, this supercomputer isn’t completely functional, it is termed as the first step in the generation of bio-supercomputers era. This supercomputer’s circuit looks like a road map of a well organized and busy city as seen from a plane.The chip measures about 1.5 cm square in which channels have been etched.

Instead of the electrons that are propelled by an electrical charge and move around within a traditional microchip, short strings of proteins called biological agents travel around the circuit in a controlled way, with their movements powered by ATP.