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Biotech and Nanotech Converge with Semiconductors

Guest post by: Michael Farrell

Article Overview: Nanotech researchers are studying biological structures looking for ways to integrate nature’s processes into the next generation of computing devices, reports Mike Farrell with aspenIbiz. Read this short post as it will reveal that DNA is being used in electronics manufacturing to create bio-sensing devices that can be implanted in the body and interact directly with the nervous system.

Biotech and Nanotech Converge with Semiconductors

I would like to provide you a heads-up regarding an important and fascinating new technological convergence.

For a majority of my career, I worked in the technology industry and facilitated the convergence of communications technology with computing technology.

Now we are seeing that nanotech researchers have been studying biological structures, looking for ways to integrate nature's processes into the next generation of computing devices.

Our brains are, after all, the most powerful computers in existence.

Earlier this month, chemists at New York University created 3D structures out of strands of DNA. By creating "sticky ends" on the DNA strands, they were able to get the DNA strands to self-assemble into 3D shapes large enough to be visible to the naked eye.

These researchers believe that this ability could lead to major improvements in the ability to manufacture nano-sized electronics.

Others have also investigated the utility of DNA in manufacturing electronics. DNA has many advantages as a molecular building block. DNA is relatively well studied and understood, and it is both tough and flexible. It has been recently used to construct box-like structures, light-driven nano-sized motors, carbon nanotube wrapping for tissue replacement, and a way to bind together gold nanoparticles to create sheets.

Caltech is responsible for a major breakthrough in the DNA area. They innovated a technique that causes single strands of viral DNA to self-assemble with short synthetic strands. This self-assembly allows scientists to fold viral DNA into precise shapes such as squares, triangles and stars. These structures have the width of the DNA double helix.

IBM also uses a similar technique to build nano-sized DNA "scaffolding" or miniature circuit boards. These "lithographic templates" could be integrated into conventional semiconductor fabrication techniques and used to install the smallest components yet devised. IBM has, in fact, pinned down the conditions that would allow the use of these DNA tools in traditional chip fabrication processes.

Moore's Law, it appears, is safe for the foreseeable future. But that's not all. Bio and nano structures are not being used only to bring the power of biology to computers. They are bringing the power of computers to biology. Recently, a hybrid of bio & nano circuits was constructed by researchers at UC Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. They coated nanowire-sized transistors with a lipid membrane similar to those found in our own cells. This means that the same complex biochemical processes that open and close channels in our cell membranes can be replicated in electronics.

By introducing proteins onto the lipid layer of their hybrid circuits, the researchers were able to create channels similar to those that exist in the cell membrane. By controlling the voltage in the nanowire transistors, they were able to make these channels open and close.

This technology holds enormous promise. It could be used to create medical prosthetics such as cochlear implants that can be implanted in the body to interact directly with the nervous system. They could also be used in a new generation of bio-sensing devices for use in medical diagnostics.

I trust this post has provided some background and evidence that powerful efforts are underway with breakthrough technology for biotech and nanotech to converge with the semiconductor industry. These activities will soon provide alternative wealth creating opportunities and our economy will become significantly stronger.

I favor a quote from Steve Forbes. Forbes says that pursuing additional financial education and the resulting increase in our financial literacy (including the investment potential of breakthrough technology) will open our eyes to alternative wealth creating strategies and this will be the key to resolving our global financial crisis.

To gain the necessary financial education, it is best to obtain association with, access to, and membership in a wealth creation community. As a result, you will learn and have the knowledge to use alternative wealth creating strategies such as Bank on Yourself, debt reduction, and asset protection. You will be exposed to wealth acceleration investments in areas (discussed in this and previous blog posts) such as biotech and nanotech converging with the semiconductor industry, electric cars, new access to space, 3D virtual technology, atomically precise manufacturing, nuclear power generation, commercial space ventures, Carrier Ethernet technologies, nanotech lithography, robotics, nano-based next-generation battery technology, precious metals, water rights, oil, natural gas, potash mines, food commodities, and gold mines. You will have the knowledge to consider investments in assets that are inherently useful like oil rigs, hydropower, or methanol plants; things that are hard to build, difficult to replace, and costly to substitute; definitely not financial stocks, definitely not retail stocks, definitely not commercial property.

Another benefit of membership in a wealth creation community is exposure to entrepreneurial leadership and business opportunities. Many of these leaders suggest that if you don't focus on being a digital entrepreneur, being self-employed, or being a small business owner, it will be a very tough road in the months and years ahead; actually it will be an uphill battle. As a result, the innovative wealth creation communities provide education and training on B2B, and B2C, eCommerce enabling a new breed of professionals that are creating six figure second incomes.

It is wise to monitor breakthrough technology as there are truly exciting developments underway with biotech and nanotech converging with the semiconductor industry related business activities. I will continue to monitor developments and provide updates in future articles and at my blog.

Finally, I want to thank Patrick Cox of Agora Financial as he was the source of some of the materials about the technology advancements mentioned in this post.

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Article Tags: B2B B2C eCommerce, Biotech, Breakthrough Technology, DNA, Financial Education, Mike Farrell aspenIbiz, Nanotech, Second Income Opportunity, Semiconductory Industry



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