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Cocaine Biosensor

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the electric-sensor-land dept.

Aaron Rowe writes "The MIT Technology review reports that a lab at UC Santa Barbara has created a biosensor by attaching a special type of DNA called an aptamer to a gold electrode. When cocaine is present, the aptamer tightly hugs a cocaine molecule and leans over so that a metal tag can touch the gold surface. This causes a spike in a plot of current versus voltage when the electrode is attached to a machine called a cyclic voltmeter."

3 of 180 comments (clear)

  1. UCSB by s0rbix · · Score: 5, Funny

    and seconds after they turned it on, the sensor was activated by a passing UCSB undergrad...

  2. Big deal by Ancil · · Score: 5, Funny
    When cocaine is present, the aptamer tightly hugs a cocaine molecule and leans over so that a metal tag can touch the gold surface.
    You can get the same effect with any garden-variety stripper.
  3. Sweet!!! by LandownEyes · · Score: 5, Funny

    No more crawling on the floor at 4am!!!