Molecular spiders can cut grass, fight one another, and save lives?

If you've read Engadget for any period of time, you know that we love robots. What do we love more than ordinary robots? Spider robots. But what do we love even more than spider robots? There's only one obvious answer: molecular robot-like spiders. The BBC has just reported on such research from Columbia University by Dr. Milan Stojanovic, a professor of biochemistry. Dr. Stojanovic and his team have built what they call a "molecular spider" that has four legs, each of which are made up of 10nm strands of DNA. The spider, once let loose in a solution of molecular-sized grass, acts as a miniature lawnmower when it releases an enzyme catalyst that cuts the tiny blades. But Dr. Stojanovic isn't stopping there -- he says that he plans to build a microscopic arena for dueling spiders to go at it: "We could have a simple predator-prey system in which one of them would try to cleave the legs of the other." However, the Beeb had to go and get a practical answer from him, explaining that "insulin could be steadily released from the surface of a tablet: if the spiders were sensitive to blood glucose, they could be automatically activated or halted according to the diabetic patient's immediate needs." That's useful, but BOR-ING! Dr. Stojanovic, let us know when we can start betting on molecular spider gladiator fights, ok?

[Thanks, Chris W., illustration courtesy of the BBC]

[LittleJoe @ Oct 10th 2006 6:08AM]

I for one welcome our... yah no.

This is pretty awesome though. Think of the possiblities... and then go lock yourself in an airtight box with a gun.

[Jeroen @ Oct 10th 2006 7:47AM]

A possible answer to diabetes: BOR-ING! ????

Although molecular spider gladiators are super cool, let's keep things in perspective

thumbs down

[brian welch @ Oct 10th 2006 10:09AM]

Dear Jeroen,

Allow me to assist: http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=joke

Stating the opposite of what is clearly true for the purposes of humor.

[teodoro @ Oct 10th 2006 7:51AM]

Forget the biomedical applications. I want a box of them so that I can unleash it on my lawn. Just think, no more gas-guzzling, time-wasting, heat-stroke-inducing, mowing of my lawn!!
Now if they could just figure out how to get them back into the box...

[fire1hawk @ Oct 10th 2006 8:29AM]

I happen to be diabetic when you consider the possibilities in treating a disorder as rampant as diabetes, fighting molecular spiders you can't see are the BOR-ING!???? part of the article.

[akijikan @ Oct 10th 2006 8:46AM]

spiders have 8 legs

[JC @ Oct 10th 2006 9:27AM]

I have a reaction to cleavage too.

[Lee @ Oct 10th 2006 10:43AM]

Well if number one won't do it... I will.

I for one welcome our ultra tiny, gene-clipping, war-waging, cleavage-reacting DNA spiderbot overlords.

[Nipponese @ Oct 10th 2006 10:44AM]

That's half a spider.

[Rod Lim @ Oct 10th 2006 3:18PM]

Helping find cure diabetes is boring?
Wow. What's next? Dissing the albinos? Polydactylys? Cleft lips?

[Steve @ Oct 10th 2006 3:24PM]

i have $10 on fig. 3.. he looks like the village ruffian.. he'll take aw'yall

[K-tronix @ Oct 11th 2006 2:42PM]

That looks like a game of twister.