# What is the current state of Cell simulators? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 11, 2003, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-state-of-cell-simulators/160500 "2003-03-11T06:24:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-state-of-cell-simulators/160500/1 "2003-03-11T06:24:39Z")
I envision one day where we use massively parallel processing systems(imagine the # of threads a program like this would use!) to simulate _exactly_ a cell based on principles of physics(incidentally, I’ve heard that quantum mechanics states that if you rolled the universe backwards, it’d occur differently, can anyone clarify?), P-chem and biology. I understand that systems exist today which simulate entire human bodies and the such, but does any system today exist which is extremely reliable in it’s predictions? Basically, I want someone to justify me getting a computer science minor with the biotechnology degree! =) ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-state-of-cell-simulators/160500/2 "2003-03-11T08:10:17Z")
Well, the PS3 when it comes out will have some sort of parallel processing system called the “Cell” [http://news.com.com/2100-1001-948493.html?tag=fd\_top](http://news.com.com/2100-1001-948493.html?tag=fd_top) ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-state-of-cell-simulators/160500/3 "2003-03-11T08:41:39Z")
Yea, I read about that. Should make the Ps3 and interesting console to buy, it’d also give some major competition to the intel/amd design. But I digress. When I meant cell simulators I mean a single cell such as a skin cell, or egg cell. An e. coli bacterium… etc. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-state-of-cell-simulators/160500/4 "2003-03-11T09:02:28Z")
To model even a single cell would take phenomenal processing power (assuming that we were to try to model it right down to the atomic level)… ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-state-of-cell-simulators/160500/5 "2003-03-11T12:53:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Harmonix \* > \*\*Basically, I want someone to justify me getting a computer science minor with the biotechnology degree! =) \*\* With biotech expanding like it is, you don’t need this for justification. It’s a hot field, and is likely to remain so for quite some time. Take an English class or two while you’re at it. Engineers fresh out of college who can’t write are all too common, and it’ll give you a big boost ahead of them. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-state-of-cell-simulators/160500/6 "2003-03-11T13:08:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ultrafilter \* > \*\* > Take an English class or two while you’re at it. Engineers fresh out of college who can’t write are all too common, and it’ll give you a big boost ahead of them. \*\* You wanna see some seriously deficient engineers go over to the [workcircuit.com](http://workcircuit.com). Those cats need some serious help. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-state-of-cell-simulators/160500/7 "2003-03-11T17:13:19Z")
Even folding protiens is giving super-computer headaches and its taking millions of distributed PC’s to simulate it. I doubt full cell simulation is anything short-term. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-state-of-cell-simulators/160500/8 "2003-03-11T19:08:12Z")
> [@](#): > > To model even a single cell would take phenomenal processing power (assuming that we were to try to model it right down to the atomic level)… I’m not 100% sure about the calculations, but I believe that although it would take a phenomenal amount of processing power for a single thread cpu, a massively parallel processing system of a million crosslinked cpu’s would be able to produce results in a reasonable amount of time. Does anyone know much about the problems of distributed computing? It seems to me whilst it has massive processing power it is \* slow \* due lag time between nodes. How much faster would a million crosslinked p4’s be compared to a million distrubuted p4’s? Assuming of course properly written software. > [@](#): > > Take an English class or two while you’re at it. Engineers fresh out of college who can’t write are all too common, and it’ll give you a big boost ahead of them. Believe it or not i’m a decent writer when i’m not being an ass backward idiot :smack: ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-state-of-cell-simulators/160500/9 "2003-03-11T22:09:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Harmonix \* > **Does anyone know much about the problems of distributed computing? It seems to me whilst it has massive processing power it is \* slow \* due lag time between nodes. How much faster would a million crosslinked p4’s be compared to a million distrubuted p4’s? Assuming of course properly written software.** Should be a little faster, just cause the data doesn’t have to travel as far. > [@](#): > > \*\*Believe it or not i’m a decent writer when i’m not being an ass backward idiot :smack: \*\* That wasn’t meant to be a comment on your writing style. It’s advice I’d give to anyone considering an engineering degree. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-current-state-of-cell-simulators/160500/10 "2003-03-12T03:31:56Z")
> [@](#): > > That wasn’t meant to be a comment on your writing style. It’s advice I’d give to anyone considering an engineering degree. > [@](#): > > Basically, I want someone to justify me getting a computer science minor with **the** biotechnology degree! =) Well I can comment on my own writing can’t I? =)