A team of scientists at Rice University has received $1.99 million in funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch an innovative project: developing computers built from living cells instead of silicon chips.
The four-year project, led by biosciences professor Matthew Bennett, involves researchers Kirstin Matthews, Caroline Ajo-Franklin, and Anastasios Kyrillidis from Rice University, in collaboration with Krešimir Josić from the University of Houston. The goal is to create programmable bacterial consortia capable of processing information, detecting environmental signals, and communicating electronically.
“Microbes are extraordinary information processors, and we want to understand how to connect them in networks that behave intelligently,” explains Bennett. “By integrating biology with electronics, we can create a new generation of computational platforms that adapt, learn, and respond to environmental stimuli.”
The core idea of the project is to explore the natural ability of bacteria to perceive and react to their environment, often coordinating their actions through chemical or electrical signals. Each cell functions as an individual processor, and when connected, they can operate as a parallel computing system—something impossible with traditional computers.
Planned applications include intelligent biosensors capable of detecting disease biomarkers or environmental contaminants and transmitting the results electronically.
The project will also investigate so-called cellular memory, allowing bacterial systems to learn from previous experiences and adjust their responses over time while maintaining microbial activity in continuous cultures. This approach paves the way for computers that not only process data but evolve and adapt as they interact with the real world.
In addition to technological advances, the research will address the ethical, legal, and social implications of this new class of “living computers,” including regulatory frameworks and public acceptance of such technologies. According to Bennett, “Beyond diagnosis and monitoring, living computers may one day surpass the capabilities of traditional machines, offering more adaptive and efficient solutions.”
This project represents a bold step in the convergence of synthetic biology and computing, pointing toward a future where microbes not only live but also think and process information, redefining the concept of computational technology
Connection With Biological Quantum Computing
Recently, scientists at the University of Chicago announced another groundbreaking advance: the creation of biological qubits inside living cells. Using fluorescent proteins, the researchers were able to make these molecules function as qubits—the building blocks of quantum computers—while maintaining their quantum properties even within cells and bacteria.
The study, published in the journal Nature, reveals that the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP), just three nanometers in diameter, can act as an optical spin qubit. This protein is widely used in cellular biology to track processes such as cell division and signaling. When genetically encoded, it can be precisely positioned at the atomic level inside cells, allowing real-time quantum measurements.
The scientists managed to control the protein’s spin states using microwave pulses and read the signals with light, even in complex biological environments. This demonstrates that it is possible to integrate quantum sensors directly into living systems, overcoming previous challenges related to the fragility of quantum states in biological conditions.
David Awschalom, co-principal investigator of the study, emphasized that, instead of adapting traditional quantum sensors for biological systems, the team chose to develop a quantum sensor from a biological system itself, leveraging nature’s tools of evolution and self-assembly. This innovative approach not only integrates physics and biology but also introduces a new philosophy in the design of quantum materials.
The study’s results indicate that protein-based qubits can be used to measure magnetic and electric fields with atomic-level precision, even within living cells. This capability opens possibilities for developing more sensitive and specific quantum sensors, with applications in areas such as medical diagnostics, monitoring cellular processes, and developing personalized therapies.
The research also suggests that these biological qubits could be used in advanced imaging techniques, such as nanoscale quantum magnetic resonance, enabling detailed visualization of cellular structures and molecular processes. Additionally, the ability to program cells to produce these quantum sensors could lead to significant advances in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
Although protein-based qubits do not yet match the sensitivity of traditional diamond-based sensors, their ability to be genetically encoded and naturally produced by cells offers significant advantages in terms of precision and applicability in biological systems. This research represents an important step in the convergence of biology and quantum computing, with the potential to transform multiple areas of science and medicine.
The team of researchers, led by Jacob Feder and Benjamin Soloway, faced significant challenges during the study, including the need to adapt quantum control techniques for biological environments. However, persistence and interdisciplinary collaboration were essential to the research’s success, highlighting the importance of integrating different fields of knowledge in the pursuit of innovative solutions.
This breakthrough not only expands the boundaries of what is possible in science but also lays the foundation for future research that could lead to programmable biological systems with quantum capabilities, opening new possibilities for engineering living organisms and developing advanced biomedical technologies.
With continued progress in understanding and manipulating biological systems at the quantum level, it is expected that in the coming years new applications and technologies will emerge that harness the potential of biological qubits to solve complex problems in areas such as early disease detection, personalized therapies, and the development of innovative biomedical devices.
Collaboration between scientists at the University of Chicago and other research institutions worldwide will continue to be essential to fully explore the capabilities of biological qubits and integrate these emerging technologies into practical and effective solutions for global challenges in health and science.
As research advances, new discoveries and innovations are likely to emerge, further expanding the possibilities for the application of biological qubits and consolidating their fundamental role in the next generation of quantum and biomedical technologies.
