Bacteria make computers look like pocket calculators

[Noreen]

I don't really understand this but maybe it's the future!

Computers are evolving – literally. While the tech world argues netbooks vs notebooks, synthetic biologists are leaving traditional computers behind altogether. A team of US scientists have engineered bacteria that can solve complex mathematical problems faster than anything made from silicon.................

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/jul/24/bacteria-computer

[Rik]

My worry would be that the bacteria might escape in their modified form. I wonder whether we are taking too big a risk here?

[Gary]

My worry would be that the bacteria might escape in their modified form. I wonder whether we are taking too big a risk here?

I would say a definate yes rik 

[Rik]

Particularly given the bacterium they've chosen to work with.

[merlin]

given that this worked ok etc , how would they decommission the computers at the end of there life, or put another way is this a similar problem to ridding the world of end of life nuclear power stations , 

[john]

My worry would be that the bacteria might escape in their modified form. I wonder whether we are taking too big a risk here?

There's no need to worry about that, this will deal with it :

[Rik]

I don't fancy that as an injection, John.