IBM Scientists believe they may have found a way to use DNA to create the next generation of semiconductor microchips.
The breakthrough could replace the hugely complex and expensive machinery used to manufacture smaller and more powerful chips used in computers, mobile phones and other electronic devices.
Scientists have suggested that artificial DNA nanostructures and “DNA origami,” in which a long single strand of DNA is folded into a shape using shorter “sample strands” could be used to provide a template on which to build tiny microchips.
The research was part of a joint study by IBM’s Almaden Research Centre and the Californian Institute of Technology,
In an interview with Reuters, IBM research manager, Spike Narayan, said: “This is the first demonstration of using biological molecules to help with processing in the semiconductor industry.
“Basically this is telling us that biological structures like DNA actually offer some very reproducible, repetitive kinds of patterns that we can actually leverage in semiconductor processes.”
Narayan added that if the DNA origami process scales to production level, manufacturers could trade hundred of millions pf dollars in complex tools for less than a million dollars of polymers, DNA solutions and heating implements.
“The savings across many fronts could add up significantly,” he said.
However, the new processes are likely to be around ten years away as the technique will need years of refining and testing.
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