This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/360052-cancer-microsoft-computer-cells/
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Microsoft wants to ‘solve’ cancer within decade by turning cells into computers | Microsoft wants to ‘solve’ cancer within decade by turning cells into computers |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Microsoft says it will be able to “solve” cancer by treating the disease in the same way as a computer virus. The company considers it highly possible to “reprogram” diseased cells once they are turned into “living computers.” | Microsoft says it will be able to “solve” cancer by treating the disease in the same way as a computer virus. The company considers it highly possible to “reprogram” diseased cells once they are turned into “living computers.” |
The revolutionary idea of finding a “cure” to cancer via computer science seems plausible since the processes that take part inside cells are comparable to those happening in a desktop computer, scientists from Microsoft’s biological computation unit said. | The revolutionary idea of finding a “cure” to cancer via computer science seems plausible since the processes that take part inside cells are comparable to those happening in a desktop computer, scientists from Microsoft’s biological computation unit said. |
"The field of biology and the field of computation might seem like chalk and cheese," Chris Bishop, head of the Cambridge-based lab, told Fast Company. | "The field of biology and the field of computation might seem like chalk and cheese," Chris Bishop, head of the Cambridge-based lab, told Fast Company. |
"But the complex processes that happen in cells have some similarity to those that happen in a standard desktop computer." | "But the complex processes that happen in cells have some similarity to those that happen in a standard desktop computer." |
Using advanced computing research, some 150 scientists are working on a project aimed at tackling cancerous cells and turning them back to normal at the Microsoft Research lab. Scientists hope to reduce cancer to a “computational problem.” | Using advanced computing research, some 150 scientists are working on a project aimed at tackling cancerous cells and turning them back to normal at the Microsoft Research lab. Scientists hope to reduce cancer to a “computational problem.” |
“We’re in a revolution with respect to cancer treatment,”said David Heckerman, a distinguished scientist and senior director of the genomics group at Microsoft. | “We’re in a revolution with respect to cancer treatment,”said David Heckerman, a distinguished scientist and senior director of the genomics group at Microsoft. |
Scientists believe that once cancer cells are made into living computers, it would be then possible to program and reprogram them – in other words cancer would be “solved.” | |
For such purposes the company has recently installed a wet lab in its biological computation unit. | |
In an exclusive interview with Fast Company, scientists shed light on the two main ongoing projects. The first focuses on computer modeling of processes that occur inside a cell, while in the other scientists are trying to create their own computer models of living systems. | In an exclusive interview with Fast Company, scientists shed light on the two main ongoing projects. The first focuses on computer modeling of processes that occur inside a cell, while in the other scientists are trying to create their own computer models of living systems. |
If the projects do work out, scientists say they would eventually be able to control the behavior of cells. Furthermore, it would be also possible to trigger a specific response within a cell which would reverse its decision and turn it back to a healthy state.Microsoft expects that the solution to “solving” cancer would be ready within a decade. | If the projects do work out, scientists say they would eventually be able to control the behavior of cells. Furthermore, it would be also possible to trigger a specific response within a cell which would reverse its decision and turn it back to a healthy state.Microsoft expects that the solution to “solving” cancer would be ready within a decade. |
“It’s long term, but… I think it will be technically possible in five to 10 years’ time to put in a smart molecular system that can detect disease,” Andrew Philips, who leads Microsoft’s biological computation group, told the Telegraph. | “It’s long term, but… I think it will be technically possible in five to 10 years’ time to put in a smart molecular system that can detect disease,” Andrew Philips, who leads Microsoft’s biological computation group, told the Telegraph. |
But for now, the Cambridge team's computer models are assisting pharmaceutical companies in developing medicines. The team is also working on a code that would help compare a living cell to a diseased one to see what happened to the cell and ways to fix it. | But for now, the Cambridge team's computer models are assisting pharmaceutical companies in developing medicines. The team is also working on a code that would help compare a living cell to a diseased one to see what happened to the cell and ways to fix it. |
Previous version
1
Next version