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Nanofabrication |
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The focus of this work has two sections:
(1) To develop a direct sequencing technology which will lower the cost of sequencing a genome from the current $0.10 per base that presently exists to $0.000001 per base, a 100,000 fold reduction in cost, enabling the sequencing of the equivalent of the human genome (3 billion bases) for approximately $1,000. (2) To do real time imaging of transcription factors binding a sliding along DNA molecules. Our work relies heavily on nanostructures. There are three strengths to our work. The first is our long history and expertise with nanochannels for linearizing DNA. If one hopes to probe DNA on the length scale of single bases, the DNA must be extremely stable from the point of view of physical motion. DNA is normally a randomly coiled polymer, and subject to many thermodynamic fluctuations, which makes physical measurements on a precise point in space difficult, since both ends from the point in question are subject to great forces and fluctuations. Our leading work in nanochannels has shown that localizing DNA in nanochannels, especially below 100 nm in size, stiffens DNA and thus greatly increases its stability for precise measurements. The second strength is our team, with a strong record of delivery in nanofabricated devices and systems. Details of nanofabrication, which are crucial to the actual delivery of results, are seen throughout the papers presented here. The third strength is our close collaboration with the Cornell Nanobiology Technology Center and the Cornell Nanofabrication Facility, which strongly complements the facilities at Princeton University. |
PapersR.H. Austin. (2003) The art of sucking spaghetti. Nature Materials: 2; 567-568. |