Intel’s new patent application released by the US Patent has revealed that the tech giant is searching for better ways to use the energy burned up during the cryptocurrency mining for sequencing of its genetic data. The patent application which is known as the ‘Blockchain System With Nucleobase Sequencing as Proof of Work’ relies on a computer system called the sequence mining platform (SMP) which uses nucleobases- molecules that contain deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) that are captured by the blockchain platform for the record.
The Nucleobases carry the genetic information that determines the physical traits of living creatures. The SMP usually establishes the order of nucleobases in any given sample which are then verified by the blockchain before being recorded permanently into the system.
Combining both blockchain technology and genetic sequencing is not a new phenomenon; various cryptocurrency projects such as the gene-coin have revealed how the energy-intensive mining process can be used in many scientific applications. The blockchain technology helps to make it impractical for any attacker of hackers to corrupt or take over the system of the blockchain thus reassuring the companies about the safety of their data.
The patent application system uses the Proof of Work (POW) algorithm to identify the sequence pattern, verify it, and record it on the block that used as a base for other POW problems in the subsequent blocks. Since the cryptocurrency industry is significantly growing and it’s currently worth $150 billion, Intel has a million reasons to get involved in the industry by supplying hardware products for mining the cryptocurrencies.
Furthermore, both Intel and Microsoft are planning to collaborate to use blockchain technology for improving the enterprise computing. In the terms of the agreement, Intel will provide the core software development needed to harmonize the Microsoft’s Coco Framework to strengthen enterprise blockchains.
According to Mark Russinovich, the chief technology officer at Microsoft, blockchain is a transformational know-how that has the ability to eliminate the friction of doing business with anyone. The vice-president at Intel, Ricardo Echevarria said that Intel will help improve the efficiency, throughput, and privacy in their blockchain transactions.