From DNA to transistors

The rapid advance in molecular biology and nanotechnology opens up the possibility to explore the interface between biology and electronics at the single-molecule level. We focus on the organization of molecular electronic circuits. Interconnecting an immense number of molecular devices into a functional circuit and constructing a framework for integrated molecular electronics requires new concepts. A promising avenue relies on bottom-up assembly where the information for the circuit connectivity and functionality is embedded in the molecular building blocks. Biology can provide concepts and mechanisms for advancing this approach, but there is no straightforward way to apply them to electronics since biological molecules are essentially electrically insulating. Bridging the chasm between biology and electronics therefore presents great challenges. Circuit organization on the molecular scale is considered and contrasted with the levels of organization presented by the living world. The discussion then focuses on our proposal to harness DNA and molecular biology to construct the scaffold for integrated molecular electronics. DNA metallization is used to convert the DNA scaffold into a conductive one. We present the framework of sequence-specific molecular lithography based on the biological mechanism of homologous genetic recombination and carried out by the bacterial protein RecA. Molecular lithography enables us to use the information encoded in the scaffold DNA molecules for directing the construction of an electronic circuit. We show that it can lead all the way from DNA molecules to working transistors in a test-tube. Carbon nanotubes are incorporated as the active electronic components in the DNA-templated transistors. Our approach can, in principle, be applied to the fabrication of larger-scale electronic circuits. The realization of complex DNA-based circuits will, however, require new concepts and additional biological machinery allowing, for example, feedback from the electronic functionality to direct the assembly process and adaptation mechanisms.