Miniaturized DNA Sewing Machines

Roland Piquepaille writes "Japanese researchers have found a way to build long threads of DNA using miniaturized hooks and bobbins. In fact, they've demonstrated how to manipulate delicate DNA chains without breaking them. They've designed these laser-directed microdevices to pick up and manipulate individual molecules of DNA. The scientists have used optical tweezers to catch and move these microdevices, which could be used in the future to detect genetic disorders such as Down syndrome." Here's a link to the journal article.

Comments

Lasers

[Bovius]

Filed under the ever growing folder labeled "It works because of lasers".

Re:Lasers

[pushing-robot]

Agreed; the world is starting to sound entirely too much like Star Trek.
 
...Actually, scratch that: The real world can never be too much like Star Trek.

Re:This is really exciting stuff

[zappepcs]

That was funny.... just wait till there is a PERL mod for that API. Freakenstein, here we come.