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DNA microchips

Introduction

The DNA chip - the technique, which was developed in conjunction with the California Institute of Technology, creates tiny microchips using strands of DNA and carbon nanotubes – microscopic cylinders constructed from carbon molecules.

 

The Basic Technology

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary genetic material in humans and almost all other organisms. After forming DNA stands into uniform shapes, scientists got the genetic material to collect on pre-specified areas of a silicon wafer. The DNA needs to be in a certain shape and alignment so that wires and switches can be attached and it then can function like a traditional microchip. Although much work needs to be done to prove the concept feasible, the researchers hope to make genetically based chips within a decade.

 

DNA Origami

In a paper published in the Nature Nanotechnology journal, the team describes a method that uses so-called "DNA origami" – pieces of genetic material which can be arranged into patterns similar to those used in the microchips common in computers and other electronic devices. After creating a scaffold of DNA, nanotubes are then inserted into the design to build a microchip that is several times smaller – and therefore faster – than anything that today's most advanced techniques can achieve. Making ever-denser microchips has been the semiconductor industry's obsession since Gordon Moore, who cofounded Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel, proclaimed decades ago that the number of chip transistors would double every year. So far, chip makers have been remarkably successful at fulfilling his prediction. Intel's earliest microprocessors had a few thousand transistors, a new one the company is working on will have close to 2 billion on a fingernail-size surface. But shrinking these components is getting enormously expensive and challenges the laws of physics. If microscopic DNA molecules can be used the way the IBM and Caltech scientists envision, chip components could become at least 10 times smaller than they are today. "This could be called helping the industry maintain Moore's Law," Allen said.

 

Advantages of DNA chip

• 1.The chips would be smaller, and faster.
• 2. More energy-efficient.
• 3. Less expensive to manufacture.
• 4. Use artificial DNA nanostructures.

 

IBM Step – technology underlying

Building blocks of human body will serve as a model for the new microprocessors of International Business Machines Corp. In a move to build smaller microchips and save costs the computer maker plans to use artificial DNA nanostructures, or "DNA origami" to build tiny microchips. As the scientists described in an article published in Nature Nanotechnology, the strands of genetic material first were formed into triangles, a shape chosen merely to demonstrate the concept can work. The triangles were made by mixing long strands of viral DNA with synthetic oligonucleotide strands, which bind to the DNA and cause it to fold in predictable ways. By forming the DNA into uniform shapes, the scientists believe they can turn the DNA into a kind of scaffold onto which wires and switches made of carbon nanotubes or similar material eventually can be attached. Although IBM makes microchips, the company has been working on the DNA concept for several years, may wind up licensing the technology to others. Hoping to one day use DNA to make microchips with vastly smaller components than is possible today. The scientist’s next hope to attach tiny electronic wires and switches to the DNA shapes a crucial step toward making a microchip. "We're incredibly intrigued by the potential of these things," said Allen the scientist, adding he believes it may be possible to make a DNA microchip within a decade.

Conclusion "This is the first demonstration of using biological molecules to help with processing in the semiconductor industry," IBM research manager Spike Narayan said in an interview with Reuters. At present time the smaller are the microprocessors the more expensive the technology and equipment. According to Narayan in case the DNA origami process scales to production-level companies will be able to abandon high cost production of complex tools and instead of hundreds of millions of dollars they will be able to spend less than a million dollars for polymers, DNA solutions, and heating implements. Meanwhile, the idea is just at the stage of development and needs years of researches and experimentation.

More reading, please visit:

http://www.ecommerce-journal.com/news/
17485_dna_microchips_ibm_s_new_project_of_cost_effective_processing?drgn=1

www.siliconvalley.com/ci_13146256?source=most_emailed

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/aug/17/ibm-dna-microchips