The size compatibility between the detector and the detected species-DNA molecules in this case-makes this approach very attractive for further development of label-free electronic methods.

You can basically have a metal detector that's the size of a badge or a gas detector that's a little larger than the button on your shirt.

You can't get the bottleneck time or the bottleneck size without both modern and ancient DNA.

What we have here is a hybrid of two molecules that are extremely sensitive to outside signals: single stranded DNA, which serves as the 'detector,' and a carbon nanotube, which functions as 'transmitter,' ... Put the two together and they become an extremely versatile type of sensor, capable of finding tiny amounts of a specific molecule.

Our technology can bring to market hand-held, field-ready devices for genetic screening, as opposed to laboratory methods using labor-intense labeling and sophisticated optical equipment.

We actually fold the DNA into any shape that we want. So in the case of the smiley faces that I made, I actually fold the DNA into a disk, but then leave two holes for the eyes and the mouth.