Biological Computing: quando le cellule umane si collegano con il futuro

·23 min·2 clips

Professor Alberto Minetti explains how living human neurons are being connected to transistors in a biocomputing platform.

This episode of Il Caffettino di Mario Moroni focuses on biological computing, featuring guests Professor Alberto Minetti and Giacomo. The conversation begins by defining biological computing as a novel field combining biology and informatics, where living human neurons interface with transistors. Giacomo explains that the platform allows programming of biological organisms using languages like Python. The process starts with engineering the genetic code of cells to create specific neuron types. These neurons are placed on a multi-electrode array chip with 60 electrodes, each 30 microns in diameter, covering an area comparable to a pinch of rice. The chip reads electrical spikes from neurons and sends stimuli, managing inputs and outputs. A closed-loop learning system is described, based on the free energy principle, where neurons receive predictable signals for correct actions and random stimuli for errors. The CL1 hybrid computer is introduced as a desktop-sized device containing computational units, an incubator maintaining 37°C, 5% CO2, and 20% oxygen to keep neurons alive. It is the first such unit in Europe, arriving at the University of Milan in late December. Applications discussed include studying neurodegenerative diseases by testing drugs on pathological neurons, and computational tasks like playing Pong or balancing a pole. Challenges include the complexity of biological neurons, which have thousands of connections compared to simple artificial neurons, and the difficulty of explaining their reasoning. Memory retention is limited as neurons mutate daily, losing electrical activity. Ethical aspects are addressed, noting that neurons derived from leukocytes are far removed from human origins. The episode concludes by highlighting human neurological complexity and the frontier nature of this research.

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