DNA could soon be used to link components in tiny circuits if Nanotronics of
San Diego and the University of California are successful with their joint
patent application (WO 98/28320). Very small devices are coated with a
predetermined DNA sequence, and the silicon chip acting as the substrate is
coated with complementary DNA sequences. When the devices and the substrate are
brought together in solution, the complementary DNA sequences bond to each
other. The system can be used to deposit a nanomatrix of, for instance,
light-emitting devices over a large surface to make a display panel. The
finished devices can be either flat or three-dimensional.
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