A computer that uses strands of DNA to perform calculations could help researchers refine techniques for analysis of DNA samples.

MAYA-II, developed by researchers at Columbia University and the University of New Mexico, uses a DNA logic gate that consists of a strand of DNA that binds to another specific input sequence. This binding causes a region of the strand to work as an enzyme, modifying yet another short DNA sequence into an output string.

A human plays MAYA-II by adding a DNA sequence that represents their chosen move at a particular point in the game.