Researchers at the University of Delaware suggest that graphene sheets with nanopores (tiny holes) could be used for ultrafast DNA sequencing based on tiny holes. The study which is based on computer simulation suggests that threading DNA though nanopores can be used to detect the presence of different DNA bases. This is done by a current of ions flowing vertically through the pore or an electronic current flowing transversely through the graphene.
Graphene is just one atom thick and so the nanopore has contact with only a single DNA base. The researchers suggest using nanoribbons of graphene to enable fast and low-cost (less than $1,000) DNA sequencing.
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Posted: Mar 25,2012 by Ron Mertens