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DNA Assembled Nano-Transistors

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the self-building-parts dept.

Bob Vila's Hammer writes "In an article at New Scientist, researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have harnessed DNA to mold a nano-transister constructed of graphite nanotubes coated in silver and gold. The carbon nanotube assembly when completed is a fully working transistor when voltage is applied. The process is ingenious, using proteins from E. Coli bacterium to bind carbon nanotubes to certain sites on strands of DNA. Then graphite nanotubes coated with antibodies connect to the proteins. Finally, silver ions are added to the solution which chemically bond with the DNA site where the protein is attached. Further refinement of the technique is required before full scale production would be efficient, but this could allow the creation of elaborate self-assembling DNA sculptures and circuitry."

4 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. E. Coli Safety by dollar70 · · Score: 5, Funny
    The process is ingenious, using proteins from E. Coli bacterium...

    Great... Now when the compter blows up, I'll get dysentery.

    1. Re:E. Coli Safety by cloudship_tacitus · · Score: 3, Funny

      will overclocking cause explosive diarrhea?

  2. The real worry here is... by keoghp · · Score: 4, Funny

    Will the new computers built of this material be more suceptable to virus attack!

    --
    For problems, seek only the simplest solution, complexity brings with it more problems.
  3. Future Virus's by Linus+Sixpack · · Score: 4, Funny

    I can just the future.

    "Humanity wiped out by terrible strain of life threatenning virus -- but it makes great video cards."

    Finally a use for the moon. A clean room.

    Could you imagine getting sick and having to sign an NDA and non contagion agreement?