IBM to Use DNA to Make Next-Gen Microchips

In various science fiction movies characters, in order to get into their high tech clear touch screen computer labs, need to scan some part of their body – such as their eyes or fingers. This past weekend’s box office hit “District 9” creates a world where aliens living on Earth are capable of operating their technology using their own DNA.

 

This idea may not be too far fetched. International Business Machines Corp is looking into human DNA to be the structure of next-generation microchips, Reuters (News - Alert) reported. As chipmakers develop ever-smaller chips at cheaper prices, designers are struggling to cut costs.

 

According to a paper published on Sunday in the Nature Nanotechnology journal,

Artificial DNA nanostructures or "DNA origami" may give designers a cheap framework on which to build tiny microchips that are used in computers, cell phones and other electronic devices.

 

"This is the first demonstration of using biological molecules to help with processing in the semiconductor industry," IBM (News - Alert) research manager Spike Narayan said in an interview with Reuters.

 

"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," he said.

 

According to Reuters, the research was a joint undertaking by scientists at IBM's Almaden Research Center and the California Institute of Technology.

 

Narayan said that if the DNA origami process scales to production-level, manufacturers could trade hundreds of millions of 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, don’t expect these new DNA chips to come out soon. Narayan said that while the DNA origami could allow chipmakers to build frameworks that are far smaller than possible with conventional tools, the technique still needs years of experimentation and testing.