Study of DNA properties under controlled conditions using AFM based nano-robotics

Abstract

After much initial controversy over the past 20 years, the mechanism of charge-transfer in DNA is now moving towards a consensus view in the chemistry community that the dominant charge-transfer mechanism appears to be distance-dependent coherent tunnelling through unit-step and weak-distance-dependent thermal hopping through multi-step. Contrary to the consensus in the chemistry society, the problem of whether DNA is conducting or insulating remains to be hotly debated among physics groups due to the disparate experimental results varying from conductor to insulator. The study of DNA electronic properties requires an efficient way to accurately position and individually manipulate DNA molecules. The recent development of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) based nano-robotics seems to be a promising solution. In this research, the DNA molecules are positioned onto a pair of electrodes by a nano-robotic tool. The electrical properties of DNA are studied under controlled conditions. © 2007 IEEE.