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4 months ago in Quantum Computing By Vishal
What are the current viable approaches to simulating DNA structure and dynamics on quantum hardware, and what’s actually feasible today versus still aspirational?
My lab is considering a collaboration with a quantum computing group, and I need a realistic picture. We understand classical molecular dynamics hits scaling limits for large DNA systems. But when I read about "quantum biology" or "quantum DNA sequencing," it's often hype. I want to know which specific quantum algorithms or hardware architectures are actually being used today to model nucleic acids, and what the major bottlenecks are.
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By Nirav Answered 2 months ago
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By Akshatha Patel Answered 2 months ago
I've been working at this intersection for several years, and I recommend starting with a clear separation between near-term and long-term goals. Today, what's feasible is not simulating an entire gene we're not there yet. What is feasible is using hybrid algorithms like VQE to compute the ground state energy of small molecular fragments: a single base pair, or a few stacked bases with explicit water molecules. This maps to quantum chemistry on a quantum computer, not full DNA dynamics. The major bottleneck is qubit count and noise. I've seen excellent work on hydrogen bonding in small nucleobase analogues. I would recommend framing your project around electronic structure of a specific interaction site, not whole-strand dynamics. The aspirational goal of simulating DNA replication or folding on a quantum processor requires fault-tolerant hardware, which is likely a decade away.
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