Researchers have demonstrated a programmable nano-scale robotic, comprised of a couple of strands of DNA, that is able to grabbing different snippets of DNA, and positioning them collectively to fabricate new UV-welded nano-machines – together with copies of itself.

The robots, in response to New Scientist, are created utilizing simply 4 strands of DNA, and measure simply 100 nanometers throughout, so a few thousand of them might squeeze up right into a line the width of a human hair.

The group, from New York College, the Ningbo Cixi Institute of Biomechanical Engineering, and The Chinese language Academy of Sciences, says the robots surpass earlier efforts, which have been solely in a position to assemble items into two-dimensional shapes. The brand new bots are in a position to make use of “multiple-axis exact folding and positioning” to “entry the third dimension and extra levels of freedom.”

These nano-bots are sometimes considered as potential methods of producing medicine, enzymes and different chemical compounds, probably contained in the cells of the physique. However the researchers particularly name out the truth that these machines can “self-replicate its whole 3D construction and capabilities.”

Feng Zhou

They are not solely self-contained; the robots, whereas “programmable,” act in response to externally managed temperature and UV mild, and so they require that UV mild to “weld” the items of DNA they’re assembling collectively.

One different factor standing between humanity and the nice Grey Goo apocalypse at this level is the truth that they can not make copies of themselves – or certainly, the rest – with out enough provides of the exact snippets of DNA they want.

Nonetheless, it is fairly unbelievable stuff, and a glimpse into the probabilities which can be speeding towards us at breakneck tempo. Is that this what dwelling via the Singularity appears like?

Supply: Science Robotics