Contents

Overview History of protein memory RAM Types Protein Memory Data Write, Read & Erase techniques Practical Memory Cell Protein memory vs conventional RAM Applications Present status

Overview
Protein memory is an experimental means of storing data. Using proteins ,that respond to light from bacteria found in salt water, a small cube can store large amounts of data. By using lasers, the protein can be changed depending on various wave lengths, allowing them to store and recall data. As a result protein can be used to store enormous amounts of data using lasers to read and write binary code.

History of protein memory

Protein memory was discovered by Walther Stoeckenius

and Dieter Oesterhelt at Rockefeller University in New York.

They discovered that a protein isolated from a salt marsh

bacterium exhibited photosensitive properties. They called this protein bacteriorhodopsin ,because it was very similar to the protein, rhodopsin that founds in the eyes of humans and animals.

RAM Types
DRAM (Dynamic RAM)
SRAM (Static RAM)

DRAM (Dynamic RAM)

Must be refreshed every few millisecond Cheaper and widely used Low power consumption

SRAM (Static RAM)

Faster than DRAM

Costly

Protein memory
How Protein Memory compete with electronic

memory? Speed Reliability Capability Cost

Basic unit of Protein Memory Bacterial protein molecule - Bacteriorhodopsin (bR)

Bacteriorhodopsin ( bR )
Purple membranes of Halo bacterium halobium.

Changes mode of operation upon light incident. Light energy to chemical energy conversion.

Why bR?
bR grows in salt marshals

Where temp can exceed 150 degree Farad for extended

time period

Salt concentration in aprx 6 times that of sea water

Survival indicates its resistance to thermal and

photochemical damages

Excellent optical characteristics & Long term stability

Photo cycle of Bacteriorhodopsin

Chromophore Light absorbing component

Light energy triggers a series of complex internal

structural changes - Photocycle

Photo cycle of Bacteriorhodopsin

Molecular Structure
Quite similar to Rhodopsin, the light detecting

pigment in retinas of human eye

Data Writing technique Photo cycle

Data Reading technique Photo cycle

Data Erasing Technique

Blue laser erases encoded data

Q state absorb blue light and return to original bR

state

Individual data can be erased using blue laser

bR Memory Cell by Bob Birge

- Implemented a prototype memory

- bR molecules to store digital bits

Birges Memory Cell

Stores data with 10,000 molecules per bit Molecule switches in 500 femtoseconds Speed only limited by laser steering speed

Estimated that Data stored live around 5 years

without any refreshment

Birges Memory Cell VS Conventional Electronic RAM

Data access

300 times faster than conventional RAM

Storage Capacity 4096 x 4096 bits page 16 Mb per page 1000 such pages 16 Gb total capacity

Birges Memory Cell VS Conventional Electronic RAM

Data Stability

Data is highly stable

Even the power is off, memory retain its information

Energy efficient computer that can be switched

on/off instantly

No waste of booting time

Birges Memory Cell VS Conventional Electronic RAM

Transportation

Can remove small data cubes and ship gigabytes of data

No moving parts safer than small hard drives Can operate in wider range of temperatures

Birges Memory Cell VS Conventional Electronic RAM

Cost

bR protein can be produced in large volumes at low price

Birges memory cell costs 2 US $ and can store 7 Gb.

Applications of bR
Ultra fast RAM
Finger print processing

Optical switches
Neural Logic gates (genetic engineering)

Present Status
Not used for commercial applications. Used for military and scientific applications.. Researches are going on for.
High speed high capacity memory for commercial

applications

Ultimate machine intelligence with the aid of genetic

engineering (A memory that mimics human brain). information we need !!.

Carry a small encyclopedic cube containing all the

Conclusion
During the past decade, the speed of computer processors

increased almost 1,000 times, where as data storage

capacities increased only by a factor of 50. Also, the transfer of data within the computer remains the principal

bottleneck that limits performance.

Protein memories use laser beam, which improve their life

with reduction in wear and tear.

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