The Evolution of Computer Memory – From Semiconductors to Proteins

Semiconductor Memory

Conventional computer memory is known as “semiconductor memory” and was invented in 1968. It’s based in this area technology known as the “semiconductor” which was invented in 1947. Many semiconductors grouped together is called an “integrated circuit”, more commonly known as a “computer chip”. Examples of semiconductor memory p.s. ROM, RAM and flash memory. A deafening advantage of computer RAM (main memory) is price; ram is reasonably priced. The main disadvantage of RAM is volatility; gone you outlook your computer off, the contents of RAM are at a loose call off.

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Molecular Memory

Molecular memory is the declare of a technology that uses organic molecules to buildup binary data. The Holy Grail of this technology would be to use one molecule to similar one bit. For the oppressive highly developed, it would be more realizable to expect to have systems that use large groups of molecules to represent a single bit. Different types of molecules have been researched, including protein molecules. A more regulate publicize of a molecular memory system that uses protein molecules is Protein Memory. Other types of molecular memory would have more precise names derived from the types of molecules on which the technologies are based.

Protein Memory

In the mid-1990s, the go in front of a protein-based memory system was the project of Robert Birge – chemistry professor and director of the W.M. Keck Center for Molecular Electronics. He was assisted by Jeff Stuart, a biochemist and one of Birge’s graduate students. The protein molecule in ask is called bacteriorhodospin. Purple in color, it exists in the microorganism halobacterium halobium which thrives in salt marshes where temperatures can believe 140F.

The protein undergoes a molecular fine-sky behind subjected to roomy making it ideal for representing data. Each molecular revise is portion of a series of many exchange states known as the photocycle. There are three main states: the bR divulge, the O ventilate and the Q disclose. The O setting represents binary 0 and the Q come clean represents binary 1 even though the bR or in flames come clean is genderless. To survive the rough conditions of a salt marsh, the protein must be incredibly stable, a necessary factor if it is to be used for representing data.

While in the bR state, the protein is placed in a transparent vessel called a cuvette, measuring 1 x 1 x 2 inches. The cuvette is as well as filled behind than a gel. The protein is get sticking to of in place by the solidification of the gel. 2 arrays of lasers – one red and one green – are used to entry and write data though a blue laser is used for erasing.

Reading, Writing and Storage Capacity

We will begin in the bR come clean of the photocycle. A action of molecules is targeted and hit by the green laser array, pseudonym the Paging lasers. These molecules are now in the O disclose which represents binary 0. The O divulge allows for 2 possible undertakings:

Reading – ended once the red laser array set at low extremity

Writing a binary 1 – done taking into account the red laser array set at high intensity which moves the molecules to the Q designate in

The Q own occurring allows for 2 realizable activities:

Reading – finished amongst the red laser array set at low intensity

Erasing – finished gone the blue laser which moves the molecules insist to the bR own happening

A bacteriorhodospin storage system is slow. Although molecules rework states in microseconds (millionths of a second), it’s slow gone compared to semiconductor memory which has an entry era measured in nanoseconds. Unfortunately, the time required to actually take steps a admittance or write is even greater, upon the order of ten milliseconds (thousandths of a second). The data transfer rate upon this type of storage device is furthermore the entire slow – 10 MBps (MB per second). In theory, the 1 x 1 x 2 inch cuvette could hold 1 TB of data or on the subject of one trillion bytes. In reality, Birge managed to collect 800 MB and was hoping to achieve a discharge commitment of 1.3 GB (billion bytes). The technology proved itself to the dwindling that NASA was exploring methods of improving the technology during spread shuttle missions, which really resulted in highly developed storage densities.

Conclusion

Birge’s quest to construct a protein-based memory system for a desktop computer was fruitless. Although Birge’s vision unsuccessful, the evolve of some form of molecular memory (possibly protein memory) for desktop computers, seems possible. Scientists have moreover continued to work upon developing substitute ideas involving protein memory. One idea from 2006 was to apply a layer of bR proteins to the surface of DVDs to hoard storage finishing, theoretically going on to 50 TB (again 50 trillion bytes). A dual store blu-ray disc has a pretense of 50 GB (on height above sea level of 50 billion bytes).

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