Many people would like to see a future where technology can be integrated into the human body for many reasons. Medical implants for treatments and controlling prosthetics are two examples of the potential uses. Before that can happen though, a means to connect the technology to our body's chemistry must be found. One promising possibility is technology that uses ions and molecules similar to how modern electronics use electrons and holes. Researchers at Linköping University have created the world's first circuit made from this biotechnology.
The parts needed for this circuit have already been developed, but this is the first time the components were put together. Ion transistors that can work with both positive and negative ions, along with other biomolecules, may operate the same as an electronic transistor but are definitely a different beast. The same can be said of the NAND gates that also had to be developed. With these two components, any kind of logical function can be performed.
As biochemical circuitry is further developed we may start using some very advanced uses for it, beyond what is currently being envisioned. The molecules being used are considerably more complicated objects than the electrons in electronics, and this complexity may allow for more advanced functions.