DNA microchips a reality?

IBM's California based team, working in conjunction with the California Institute of Technology, have developed a method called 'DNA origami', using pieces of genetic material that can be arranged into patterns similar to those used in chips. After creating a scaffold of DNA, nanotubes are then inserted into the design to build a microchip which IBM claims is much smaller and faster than any currently available chips. According to the paper, published in the Nature Nanotechnology Journal, the procedure can produce chips with gaps as small as 6nm. Spike Narayan, manager, Science & Technology, IBM Research, said: "The cost involved in shrinking features to improve performance is a limiting factor in keeping pace with Moore's Law and a concern across the semiconductor industry. The combination of this directed self assembly with today's fabrication technology eventually could lead to substantial savings in the most expensive and challenging part of the chip making process." IBM expects the techniques under development to be commonplace within 10 years.