Shegufta Razzaque

NanoNews- New molecular robot can be programmed to follow instructions

URL: http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-03-molecular-robot.html
Source: taken from another periodical called “Nano Letters”.
Research done by Oxford professor as colleagues.
Content:
Interesting concept of using a synthetic DNA molecule as nanobot.
Doesn’t explain how this “synthetic” DNA differs from normal DNA.
Looking at the two dimensional movement capacity of a molecule instead of the current
capabilities to have it walk in a straight line.
The bipedal motion is loosely explained – How does something so small “walk” in an
environment where the effects of gravity are more difficult to observe and have little impact. In
other words, what do they actually mean by walking?
They don’t explain what it means to program the robot other than giving it a certain type
of fuel that also determines direction (called “fuel hairpin).
The article doesn’t explain what exactly the “fuel” is made out of, what it does, or how it
determines the direction.
How is this fuel programmable?
The article mentions the molecule’s potential to transport pharmaceuticals. How would
that be possible? The article doesn’t mention how any sort of material could be carried by this
molecule or how it would be inserted. Are they trying to create a molecule that serves the same
purpose as a car?
They preemptively call it a robot, which has a connotation of the molecule being more
complex and functional than it really is.
Why use the molecule structure that they did? What are the benefits to using a molecule
that is structured like DNA?
What is the track they are using made of?
Fuel is possibly contains some sort of enzyme?
While they mentioned the possibility of this technology’s use in the medical field, it
seems like the technology is still far off from being practically usable within a human body. It
doesn’t mention any trials done within a biological organism, only in lab created tracks. I am
skeptical of this technology’s ability to function in an environment where there will be constant
motion and interaction with enzymes and particles and random collisions such as with RNA,
mRNA, etc.
 New Article: Upon a Google search, found an article
on the same topic but with much more detail, even
including a diagram:
http://nextbigfuture.com/2011/03/programmable-
molecular-robots-can.html
This new article mentions DNA hybridization
as the “fuel”. Provides a link to 12 pages of
supplementary info which answered many of my earlier concerns.

Hypotheses:
May be helpful in the medical field, but for various reasons this could provide to be extremely
difficult. It is likely that this type of mechanism (increased movement that can be considered
autonomous) would be helpful in the creation of self-replicating nanobots in more controlled
environments, possibly for future purposes. As computers get smaller, we may need to use
nanobots for repairs of these systems or maybe in outer space on satellites.