Embedded devices, including microscopic sensors, microscopic processors and microscopic radio transceivers, could be placed in medicine that would be swallowed by the patient. These devices could then keep an eye on medical conditions and treat the conditions with drugs while sending data to a portable server in the home. The data could then be sent to the doctor over the Web. Until the systems gain the ability to allow users to decide who gets to see the data, privacy will be an issue. Eventually there will be a wireless network that will provide network and Internet access for controls, processors and sensors embedded in equipment.
Scientists are now at the stage of programming DNA to perform computations in cells.
Researchers at Boston University have created a biological toggle switch using genes to turn the switch to on and off positions that correspond to the ones and zeroes in today's computers. The biological switch was built with a circular section of DNA that holds two genes that suppress each other, so while one gene is on the other gene is off. The genes can be switched on and off with chemicals or a temperature change. Although the switch is slow compared to traditional computers, the mechanism proves that cells can be programmed in ways that could lead to useful computations. Although biocomputing is still in its early stages, advances in the field could ultimately lead to jars of bacteria that serve as computers and cells that are injected into the body to help patients.