[ExI] Do digital computers feel?

[Ben]

Brent, what do you think would happen if we were to genetically engineer 
all the glutamate receptors in the brain to recognise a different 
substance that currently has no role in brain chemistry (I'll call it 
"pecamate"), and also engineer all the brain cells that currently 
produce glutamate under any circumstances to instead produce pecamate 
under exactly the same circumstances?

Do you think that this would make the slightest bit of difference to the 
functioning, behaviour, qualia, or anything else, of the brain?