DNA Detectors for Hazardous Metals

ddillman writes "EETimes.com has a story about new DNA-based sensor chips that can detect any of a range of hazardous metals such as lead and mercury in real time. Previously, this had required lengthy and expensive testing in batches for specific elements. When the sensors detect the metal for which they're testing, they emit light into a fiber optic line. They've already got a range of three orders of magnitude in sensitivity, and expect to be able to refine this considerably."

Comments

Makes sense

[Kreeblah]

I can see a use for this in homes and businesses (schools, organizations, etc.). People drink water every day, but occasionally, it's contaminated. Because checks aren't performed every day (for time/economic reasons), contaminations can slip by unnoticed for weeks or even months. This could provide a real-time testing (maybe once a day or something) for dangerous metals and set off a warning if there's a problem, kind of like carbon monoxide/smoke detectors. It would probably be more useful, though, if it detected for biological contaminants (due to the fact that biological contamination is far more common). Just a thought.

Re:Government versus Corporations

[influensa]

It is a reasonable application of tax dollars, but perhaps if your tax dollars are going into this, then nobody should be allowed to patent it?

I personally don't think it's fair that when someone gets funded by the public, they can still turn around and put an exclusive license on the new technology so their company gets to make the most money.

If the public paid for it, then it should be public domain.