Researchers have devised a pair of computer architectures that would be built from self-assembling DNA.

Computers assembled by DNA have the potential to be extremely small, fast and inexpensive, and would consume very little power.

The researchers’ architectures call for single-stranded artificial DNA molecules that have silicon nanorods attached to their ends to assemble into circuit patterns. The DNA junctions between rods are then plated with metal to form the circuitry.