IBM Researchers Working Toward Cheap, Fast DNA Reader

nk497 writes "IBM scientists are working on ambitious research where nano-sized holes will be drilled into computer chips and DNA passed through to create a 'genetic code reader.' A DNA molecule would be passed through a hole just three nanometers wide, while an electrical sensor 'reads' the DNA. The challenge of the silicon-based 'DNA Transistor' would be to slow and control the motion of the DNA through the hole so the reader could decode what is inside it. IBM claimed that if the project was successful it could make personalised genome analysis as cheap as $100 to $1,000, and compared it to the first-ever sequencing done for the Human Genome Project, which cost $3 billion."

Comments

Re:Other uses

[Shakrai]

Well, since you are being a complete nay-sayer to further your own agenda, allow me to respond with some other potential uses of this technology:

Law enforcement will use it to help solve crime.

The innocence project will use it to get wrongfully convicted people out of prison/off death row.

Businesses and private individuals will be able to use it to enhance the security of their homes/offices/factories/etc.

Adopted children will be able to use it to figure out who their biological parents are.

The child support system will be able to use it to weed out those who aren't parents and confirm those who are.

The point I'm trying to make is that technology isn't inherently good or evil. It's what we do with it that matters. I find it disturbing that you couldn't name a single positive use for this technology.