{"id":99163,"date":"2012-01-05T12:19:31","date_gmt":"2012-01-05T17:19:31","guid":{"rendered":"\/gazette\/?p=99163"},"modified":"2019-03-19T16:09:12","modified_gmt":"2019-03-19T20:09:12","slug":"reading-lifes-building-blocks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/01\/reading-lifes-building-blocks\/","title":{"rendered":"Reading life\u2019s building blocks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t
\"\"

In a recent Nature Nanotechnology paper, researchers from Harvard demonstrated that nanowire transistors can locally read and amplify the DNA translocation signal from a nearby nanopore.<\/p>

Image courtesy of Ping Xie, Qihua Xiong, Ying Fang, Quan Qing, and Charles M. Lieber<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t

\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tScience & Tech\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t

\n\t\tReading life\u2019s building blocks\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\tPeter Reuell\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\tHarvard Staff Writer\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/address>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t

\n\t\t\tHarvard researchers develop tools to speed DNA sequencing\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\t\t

Scientists are one step closer to a revolution in DNA sequencing<\/a>, following the development in a Harvard<\/a> lab of a tiny device designed to read the minute electrical changes produced when DNA strands are passed through tiny holes \u2014 called nanopores<\/a> \u2014 in an electrically charged membrane.<\/p>\n

As described in Nature Nanotechnology<\/a> on Dec. 11, a research team led by Charles Lieber<\/a>, the Mark Hyman Jr. Professor of Chemistry, have succeeded for the first time in creating an integrated nanopore detector, a development that opens the door to the creation of devices that could use arrays of millions of the microscopic holes to sequence DNA quickly and cheaply.<\/p>\n

First described more than 15 years ago, nanopore sequencing<\/a> measures subtle electrical current changes produced as the four base molecules that make up DNA pass through the pore. By reading those changes, researchers can effectively sequence DNA.<\/p>\n

But reading those subtle changes in current is far from easy. A series of challenges \u2014 from how to record the tiny changes in current to how to scale up the sequencing process \u2014 meant the process has never been possible on a large scale. Lieber and his team, however, believe they have found a unified solution to most of those problems.<\/p>\n

\u201cUntil we developed our detector, there was no way to locally measure the changes in current,\u201d Lieber said. \u201cOur method is ideal because it is extremely localized. We can use all the existing work that has been done on nanopores, but with a local detector we\u2019re one step closer to completely revolutionizing sequencing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The detector developed by Lieber and his team grew out of earlier work on nanowires<\/a>. Using the ultra-thin wires as a nanoscale transistor<\/a>, they are able to measure the changes in current more locally and accurately than ever before.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe nanowire transistor measures the electrical potential change at the pore and effectively amplifies the signal,\u201d Lieber said. \u201cIn addition to a larger signal, that allows us to read things much more quickly. That\u2019s important because DNA is so large [that] the throughput for any sequencing method needs to be high. In principle, this detector can work at gigahertz frequencies.\u201d<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\n\t

\"\"
\u201cThe nanowire transistor measures the electrical potential change at the pore and effectively amplifies the signal,\u201d said Charles Lieber. \u201cIn addition to a larger signal, that allows us to read things much more quickly." File photo Kris Snibbe\/Harvard Staff Photographer\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\n\t\r\n\n

The highly localized measurement also opens the door to parallel sequencing, which uses arrays of millions of pores to speed the sequencing process dramatically.<\/p>\n

In addition to the potential for greatly improving the speed of sequencing, the new detector holds the promise of dramatically reducing the cost of DNA sequencing, said Ping Xie, an associate of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and co-author of the paper describing the research.<\/p>\n

Current sequencing methods often start with a process called the polymerase chain reaction<\/a>, or DNA amplification, which copies a small amount of DNA thousands of millions of times, making it easier to sequence. Though critically important to biology, the process is expensive, requiring chemical supplies and expensive laboratory equipment.<\/p>\n

In the future, Xie said, it will be possible to build the nanopore sequencing technology onto a silicon chip, allowing doctors, researchers, or even the average person to use DNA sequencing as a diagnostic tool.<\/p>\n

The breakthrough by Lieber\u2019s team could soon make the transition from lab to commercial product. The Harvard Office of Technology Development<\/a> is working on a strategy to commercialize the technology appropriately, including licensing it to a company that plans to incorporate it into their DNA sequencing platform.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, we are limited in our ability to perform DNA sequencing,\u201d Xie said. \u201cCurrent sequencing technology is where computers were in the \u201950s and \u201960s. It requires a lot of equipment and is very expensive. But just 50 years later, computers are everywhere, even in greeting cards. Our detector opens the door to doing a blood draw and immediately knowing what a patient is infected with, and very quickly making treatment decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A team led by Harvard researcher Charles Lieber has for the first time succeeded in creating a device that opens the door to using tiny holes called nanopores in an electrically charged membrane to quickly and easily sequence DNA. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":105622744,"featured_media":99503,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"gz_ga_pageviews":23,"gz_ga_lastupdated":"2021-10-07 12:22","document_color_palette":"crimson","author":"Peter Reuell","affiliation":"Harvard Staff 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Lieber<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"403\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/nanopore_paper1.jpg\" width=\"605\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">In a recent Nature Nanotechnology paper, researchers from Harvard demonstrated that nanowire transistors can locally read and amplify the DNA translocation signal from a nearby nanopore.<\/p><p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Image courtesy of Ping Xie, Qihua Xiong, Ying Fang, Quan Qing, and Charles M. Lieber<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"<header\n\tclass=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-article-header alignfull article-header is-style-full-width-text-below centered-image\"\n\tstyle=\" \"\n>\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"403\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/nanopore_paper1.jpg\" width=\"605\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">In a recent Nature Nanotechnology paper, researchers from Harvard demonstrated that nanowire transistors can locally read and amplify the DNA translocation signal from a nearby nanopore.<\/p><p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Image courtesy of Ping Xie, Qihua Xiong, Ying Fang, Quan Qing, and Charles M. Lieber<\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t<div class=\"article-header__content\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"article-header__category\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/science-technology\/\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\tScience & Tech\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t<h1 class=\"article-header__title wp-block-heading \">\n\t\tReading life\u2019s building blocks\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"article-header__meta\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-post-author\">\n\t\t\t<address class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"author wp-block-post-author__name\">\n\t\tPeter Reuell\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-post-author__byline\">\n\t\t\tHarvard Staff Writer\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/address>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<time class=\"article-header__date\" datetime=\"2012-01-05\">\n\t\t\tJanuary 5, 2012\t\t<\/time>\n\n\t\t<span class=\"article-header__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t4 min read\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-header__subheading wp-block-heading\">\n\t\t\tHarvard researchers develop tools to speed DNA sequencing\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<\/header>\n"},"2":{"blockName":"core\/group","attrs":{"templateLock":false,"metadata":{"name":"Article content"},"align":"wide","layout":{"type":"constrained","justifyContent":"center"},"tagName":"div","lock":[],"className":"","style":[],"backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","ariaLabel":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\t\t<p>Scientists are one step closer to a revolution in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wiley.com\/college\/pratt\/0471393878\/student\/animations\/dna_sequencing\/index.html\">DNA sequencing<\/a>, following the development in a <a href=\"http:\/\/harvard.edu\/\">Harvard<\/a> lab of a tiny device designed to read the minute electrical changes produced when DNA strands are passed through tiny holes \u2014 called <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thenanoporesite.com\/\">nanopores<\/a> \u2014 in an electrically charged membrane.<\/p>\n<p>As described in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nature.com\/nnano\/journal\/vaop\/ncurrent\/full\/nnano.2011.217.html\">Nature Nanotechnology<\/a> on Dec. 11, a research team led by <a href=\"http:\/\/cmliris.harvard.edu\/\">Charles Lieber<\/a>, the Mark Hyman Jr. Professor of Chemistry, have succeeded for the first time in creating an integrated nanopore detector, a development that opens the door to the creation of devices that could use arrays of millions of the microscopic holes to sequence DNA quickly and cheaply.<\/p>\n<p>First described more than 15 years ago, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.economist.com\/node\/18304268\">nanopore sequencing<\/a> measures subtle electrical current changes produced as the four base molecules that make up DNA pass through the pore. By reading those changes, researchers can effectively sequence DNA.<\/p>\n<p>But reading those subtle changes in current is far from easy. A series of challenges \u2014 from how to record the tiny changes in current to how to scale up the sequencing process \u2014 meant the process has never been possible on a large scale. Lieber and his team, however, believe they have found a unified solution to most of those problems.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUntil we developed our detector, there was no way to locally measure the changes in current,\u201d Lieber said. \u201cOur method is ideal because it is extremely localized. We can use all the existing work that has been done on nanopores, but with a local detector we\u2019re one step closer to completely revolutionizing sequencing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The detector developed by Lieber and his team grew out of earlier work on <a href=\"http:\/\/science.howstuffworks.com\/nanowire.htm\">nanowires<\/a>. Using the ultra-thin wires as a nanoscale <a href=\"http:\/\/101science.com\/transistor.htm\">transistor<\/a>, they are able to measure the changes in current more locally and accurately than ever before.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe nanowire transistor measures the electrical potential change at the pore and effectively amplifies the signal,\u201d Lieber said. \u201cIn addition to a larger signal, that allows us to read things much more quickly. That\u2019s important because DNA is so large [that] the throughput for any sequencing method needs to be high. In principle, this detector can work at gigahertz frequencies.\u201d<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n\t\t<p>Scientists are one step closer to a revolution in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wiley.com\/college\/pratt\/0471393878\/student\/animations\/dna_sequencing\/index.html\">DNA sequencing<\/a>, following the development in a <a href=\"http:\/\/harvard.edu\/\">Harvard<\/a> lab of a tiny device designed to read the minute electrical changes produced when DNA strands are passed through tiny holes \u2014 called <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thenanoporesite.com\/\">nanopores<\/a> \u2014 in an electrically charged membrane.<\/p>\n<p>As described in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nature.com\/nnano\/journal\/vaop\/ncurrent\/full\/nnano.2011.217.html\">Nature Nanotechnology<\/a> on Dec. 11, a research team led by <a href=\"http:\/\/cmliris.harvard.edu\/\">Charles Lieber<\/a>, the Mark Hyman Jr. Professor of Chemistry, have succeeded for the first time in creating an integrated nanopore detector, a development that opens the door to the creation of devices that could use arrays of millions of the microscopic holes to sequence DNA quickly and cheaply.<\/p>\n<p>First described more than 15 years ago, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.economist.com\/node\/18304268\">nanopore sequencing<\/a> measures subtle electrical current changes produced as the four base molecules that make up DNA pass through the pore. By reading those changes, researchers can effectively sequence DNA.<\/p>\n<p>But reading those subtle changes in current is far from easy. A series of challenges \u2014 from how to record the tiny changes in current to how to scale up the sequencing process \u2014 meant the process has never been possible on a large scale. Lieber and his team, however, believe they have found a unified solution to most of those problems.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUntil we developed our detector, there was no way to locally measure the changes in current,\u201d Lieber said. \u201cOur method is ideal because it is extremely localized. We can use all the existing work that has been done on nanopores, but with a local detector we\u2019re one step closer to completely revolutionizing sequencing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The detector developed by Lieber and his team grew out of earlier work on <a href=\"http:\/\/science.howstuffworks.com\/nanowire.htm\">nanowires<\/a>. Using the ultra-thin wires as a nanoscale <a href=\"http:\/\/101science.com\/transistor.htm\">transistor<\/a>, they are able to measure the changes in current more locally and accurately than ever before.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe nanowire transistor measures the electrical potential change at the pore and effectively amplifies the signal,\u201d Lieber said. \u201cIn addition to a larger signal, that allows us to read things much more quickly. That\u2019s important because DNA is so large [that] the throughput for any sequencing method needs to be high. In principle, this detector can work at gigahertz frequencies.\u201d<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n\t\t<p>Scientists are one step closer to a revolution in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wiley.com\/college\/pratt\/0471393878\/student\/animations\/dna_sequencing\/index.html\">DNA sequencing<\/a>, following the development in a <a href=\"http:\/\/harvard.edu\/\">Harvard<\/a> lab of a tiny device designed to read the minute electrical changes produced when DNA strands are passed through tiny holes \u2014 called <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thenanoporesite.com\/\">nanopores<\/a> \u2014 in an electrically charged membrane.<\/p>\n<p>As described in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nature.com\/nnano\/journal\/vaop\/ncurrent\/full\/nnano.2011.217.html\">Nature Nanotechnology<\/a> on Dec. 11, a research team led by <a href=\"http:\/\/cmliris.harvard.edu\/\">Charles Lieber<\/a>, the Mark Hyman Jr. Professor of Chemistry, have succeeded for the first time in creating an integrated nanopore detector, a development that opens the door to the creation of devices that could use arrays of millions of the microscopic holes to sequence DNA quickly and cheaply.<\/p>\n<p>First described more than 15 years ago, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.economist.com\/node\/18304268\">nanopore sequencing<\/a> measures subtle electrical current changes produced as the four base molecules that make up DNA pass through the pore. By reading those changes, researchers can effectively sequence DNA.<\/p>\n<p>But reading those subtle changes in current is far from easy. A series of challenges \u2014 from how to record the tiny changes in current to how to scale up the sequencing process \u2014 meant the process has never been possible on a large scale. Lieber and his team, however, believe they have found a unified solution to most of those problems.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUntil we developed our detector, there was no way to locally measure the changes in current,\u201d Lieber said. \u201cOur method is ideal because it is extremely localized. We can use all the existing work that has been done on nanopores, but with a local detector we\u2019re one step closer to completely revolutionizing sequencing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The detector developed by Lieber and his team grew out of earlier work on <a href=\"http:\/\/science.howstuffworks.com\/nanowire.htm\">nanowires<\/a>. Using the ultra-thin wires as a nanoscale <a href=\"http:\/\/101science.com\/transistor.htm\">transistor<\/a>, they are able to measure the changes in current more locally and accurately than ever before.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe nanowire transistor measures the electrical potential change at the pore and effectively amplifies the signal,\u201d Lieber said. \u201cIn addition to a larger signal, that allows us to read things much more quickly. That\u2019s important because DNA is so large [that] the throughput for any sequencing method needs to be high. In principle, this detector can work at gigahertz frequencies.\u201d<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/image","attrs":{"sizeSlug":"full","align":"none","id":99173,"caption":"\u201cThe nanowire transistor measures the electrical potential change at the pore and effectively amplifies the signal,\u201d said Charles Lieber. \u201cIn addition to a larger signal, that allows us to read things much more quickly.\" File photo Kris Snibbe\/Harvard Staff Photographer","blob":"","url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/lieber_500.jpg","alt":"","lightbox":[],"title":"","href":"","rel":"","linkClass":"","width":"","height":"","aspectRatio":"","scale":"","linkDestination":"","linkTarget":"","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":[],"borderColor":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/lieber_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99173\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cThe nanowire transistor measures the electrical potential change at the pore and effectively amplifies the signal,\u201d said Charles Lieber. \u201cIn addition to a larger signal, that allows us to read things much more quickly." File photo Kris Snibbe\/Harvard Staff Photographer\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t","innerContent":["\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/lieber_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99173\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cThe nanowire transistor measures the electrical potential change at the pore and effectively amplifies the signal,\u201d said Charles Lieber. \u201cIn addition to a larger signal, that allows us to read things much more quickly." File photo Kris Snibbe\/Harvard Staff Photographer\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t"],"rendered":"\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/lieber_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99173\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cThe nanowire transistor measures the electrical potential change at the pore and effectively amplifies the signal,\u201d said Charles Lieber. \u201cIn addition to a larger signal, that allows us to read things much more quickly." File photo Kris Snibbe\/Harvard Staff Photographer\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t"},{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<p>The highly localized measurement also opens the door to parallel sequencing, which uses arrays of millions of pores to speed the sequencing process dramatically.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the potential for greatly improving the speed of sequencing, the new detector holds the promise of dramatically reducing the cost of DNA sequencing, said Ping Xie, an associate of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and co-author of the paper describing the research.<\/p>\n<p>Current sequencing methods often start with a process called the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dnalc.org\/resources\/animations\/pcr.html\">polymerase chain reaction<\/a>, or DNA amplification, which copies a small amount of DNA thousands of millions of times, making it easier to sequence. Though critically important to biology, the process is expensive, requiring chemical supplies and expensive laboratory equipment.<\/p>\n<p>In the future, Xie said, it will be possible to build the nanopore sequencing technology onto a silicon chip, allowing doctors, researchers, or even the average person to use DNA sequencing as a diagnostic tool.<\/p>\n<p>The breakthrough by Lieber\u2019s team could soon make the transition from lab to commercial product. The <a href=\"https:\/\/otd.harvard.edu\">Harvard Office of Technology Development<\/a> is working on a strategy to commercialize the technology appropriately, including licensing it to a company that plans to incorporate it into their DNA sequencing platform.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRight now, we are limited in our ability to perform DNA sequencing,\u201d Xie said. \u201cCurrent sequencing technology is where computers were in the \u201950s and \u201960s. It requires a lot of equipment and is very expensive. But just 50 years later, computers are everywhere, even in greeting cards. Our detector opens the door to doing a blood draw and immediately knowing what a patient is infected with, and very quickly making treatment decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n<p>The highly localized measurement also opens the door to parallel sequencing, which uses arrays of millions of pores to speed the sequencing process dramatically.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the potential for greatly improving the speed of sequencing, the new detector holds the promise of dramatically reducing the cost of DNA sequencing, said Ping Xie, an associate of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and co-author of the paper describing the research.<\/p>\n<p>Current sequencing methods often start with a process called the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dnalc.org\/resources\/animations\/pcr.html\">polymerase chain reaction<\/a>, or DNA amplification, which copies a small amount of DNA thousands of millions of times, making it easier to sequence. Though critically important to biology, the process is expensive, requiring chemical supplies and expensive laboratory equipment.<\/p>\n<p>In the future, Xie said, it will be possible to build the nanopore sequencing technology onto a silicon chip, allowing doctors, researchers, or even the average person to use DNA sequencing as a diagnostic tool.<\/p>\n<p>The breakthrough by Lieber\u2019s team could soon make the transition from lab to commercial product. The <a href=\"https:\/\/otd.harvard.edu\">Harvard Office of Technology Development<\/a> is working on a strategy to commercialize the technology appropriately, including licensing it to a company that plans to incorporate it into their DNA sequencing platform.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRight now, we are limited in our ability to perform DNA sequencing,\u201d Xie said. \u201cCurrent sequencing technology is where computers were in the \u201950s and \u201960s. It requires a lot of equipment and is very expensive. But just 50 years later, computers are everywhere, even in greeting cards. Our detector opens the door to doing a blood draw and immediately knowing what a patient is infected with, and very quickly making treatment decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n<p>The highly localized measurement also opens the door to parallel sequencing, which uses arrays of millions of pores to speed the sequencing process dramatically.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the potential for greatly improving the speed of sequencing, the new detector holds the promise of dramatically reducing the cost of DNA sequencing, said Ping Xie, an associate of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and co-author of the paper describing the research.<\/p>\n<p>Current sequencing methods often start with a process called the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dnalc.org\/resources\/animations\/pcr.html\">polymerase chain reaction<\/a>, or DNA amplification, which copies a small amount of DNA thousands of millions of times, making it easier to sequence. Though critically important to biology, the process is expensive, requiring chemical supplies and expensive laboratory equipment.<\/p>\n<p>In the future, Xie said, it will be possible to build the nanopore sequencing technology onto a silicon chip, allowing doctors, researchers, or even the average person to use DNA sequencing as a diagnostic tool.<\/p>\n<p>The breakthrough by Lieber\u2019s team could soon make the transition from lab to commercial product. The <a href=\"https:\/\/otd.harvard.edu\">Harvard Office of Technology Development<\/a> is working on a strategy to commercialize the technology appropriately, including licensing it to a company that plans to incorporate it into their DNA sequencing platform.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRight now, we are limited in our ability to perform DNA sequencing,\u201d Xie said. \u201cCurrent sequencing technology is where computers were in the \u201950s and \u201960s. It requires a lot of equipment and is very expensive. But just 50 years later, computers are everywhere, even in greeting cards. Our detector opens the door to doing a blood draw and immediately knowing what a patient is infected with, and very quickly making treatment decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n"}],"innerHTML":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide\">\n\n\r\n\t\n\t\r\n\n\n<\/div>\n","innerContent":["\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide\">\n\n","\r\n\t","\n\t\r\n","\n\n<\/div>\n"],"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n\n\t\t<p>Scientists are one step closer to a revolution in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wiley.com\/college\/pratt\/0471393878\/student\/animations\/dna_sequencing\/index.html\">DNA sequencing<\/a>, following the development in a <a href=\"http:\/\/harvard.edu\/\">Harvard<\/a> lab of a tiny device designed to read the minute electrical changes produced when DNA strands are passed through tiny holes \u2014 called <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thenanoporesite.com\/\">nanopores<\/a> \u2014 in an electrically charged membrane.<\/p>\n<p>As described in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nature.com\/nnano\/journal\/vaop\/ncurrent\/full\/nnano.2011.217.html\">Nature Nanotechnology<\/a> on Dec. 11, a research team led by <a href=\"http:\/\/cmliris.harvard.edu\/\">Charles Lieber<\/a>, the Mark Hyman Jr. Professor of Chemistry, have succeeded for the first time in creating an integrated nanopore detector, a development that opens the door to the creation of devices that could use arrays of millions of the microscopic holes to sequence DNA quickly and cheaply.<\/p>\n<p>First described more than 15 years ago, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.economist.com\/node\/18304268\">nanopore sequencing<\/a> measures subtle electrical current changes produced as the four base molecules that make up DNA pass through the pore. By reading those changes, researchers can effectively sequence DNA.<\/p>\n<p>But reading those subtle changes in current is far from easy. A series of challenges \u2014 from how to record the tiny changes in current to how to scale up the sequencing process \u2014 meant the process has never been possible on a large scale. Lieber and his team, however, believe they have found a unified solution to most of those problems.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUntil we developed our detector, there was no way to locally measure the changes in current,\u201d Lieber said. \u201cOur method is ideal because it is extremely localized. We can use all the existing work that has been done on nanopores, but with a local detector we\u2019re one step closer to completely revolutionizing sequencing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The detector developed by Lieber and his team grew out of earlier work on <a href=\"http:\/\/science.howstuffworks.com\/nanowire.htm\">nanowires<\/a>. Using the ultra-thin wires as a nanoscale <a href=\"http:\/\/101science.com\/transistor.htm\">transistor<\/a>, they are able to measure the changes in current more locally and accurately than ever before.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe nanowire transistor measures the electrical potential change at the pore and effectively amplifies the signal,\u201d Lieber said. \u201cIn addition to a larger signal, that allows us to read things much more quickly. That\u2019s important because DNA is so large [that] the throughput for any sequencing method needs to be high. In principle, this detector can work at gigahertz frequencies.\u201d<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-full is-resized\"><img src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/lieber_500.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-99173\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cThe nanowire transistor measures the electrical potential change at the pore and effectively amplifies the signal,\u201d said Charles Lieber. \u201cIn addition to a larger signal, that allows us to read things much more quickly." File photo Kris Snibbe\/Harvard Staff Photographer\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\n\t\r\n\n<p>The highly localized measurement also opens the door to parallel sequencing, which uses arrays of millions of pores to speed the sequencing process dramatically.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the potential for greatly improving the speed of sequencing, the new detector holds the promise of dramatically reducing the cost of DNA sequencing, said Ping Xie, an associate of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and co-author of the paper describing the research.<\/p>\n<p>Current sequencing methods often start with a process called the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dnalc.org\/resources\/animations\/pcr.html\">polymerase chain reaction<\/a>, or DNA amplification, which copies a small amount of DNA thousands of millions of times, making it easier to sequence. Though critically important to biology, the process is expensive, requiring chemical supplies and expensive laboratory equipment.<\/p>\n<p>In the future, Xie said, it will be possible to build the nanopore sequencing technology onto a silicon chip, allowing doctors, researchers, or even the average person to use DNA sequencing as a diagnostic tool.<\/p>\n<p>The breakthrough by Lieber\u2019s team could soon make the transition from lab to commercial product. The <a href=\"https:\/\/otd.harvard.edu\">Harvard Office of Technology Development<\/a> is working on a strategy to commercialize the technology appropriately, including licensing it to a company that plans to incorporate it into their DNA sequencing platform.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRight now, we are limited in our ability to perform DNA sequencing,\u201d Xie said. \u201cCurrent sequencing technology is where computers were in the \u201950s and \u201960s. It requires a lot of equipment and is very expensive. But just 50 years later, computers are everywhere, even in greeting cards. Our detector opens the door to doing a blood draw and immediately knowing what a patient is infected with, and very quickly making treatment decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n"}},"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":61032,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2008\/09\/nhgri-nih-awards-team-65m-to-advance-dna-sequencing-using-nanopores\/","url_meta":{"origin":99163,"position":0},"title":"NHGRI\/NIH awards team $6.5M to advance DNA sequencing using Nanopores","author":"harvardgazette","date":"September 5, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), awarded a $6.5 (over 4 years) grant to a team of Harvard University researchers to further develop electronic sequencing in nanopores. The grant is part of more than $20 million in total funding given by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Science & Tech"","block_context":{"text":"Science & Tech","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/science-technology\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":635,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2008\/09\/nhgrinih-awards-harvard-researchers-6-5m\/","url_meta":{"origin":99163,"position":1},"title":"NHGRI\/NIH awards Harvard researchers $6.5M","author":"harvardgazette","date":"September 11, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), awarded a $6.5 million grant (over four years) to a team of Harvard University researchers to further develop electronic sequencing in nanopores. The grant is part of more than $20 million in total funding given\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Campus & Community"","block_context":{"text":"Campus & Community","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/campus-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":99624,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2012\/01\/professor-charles-lieber-receives-israels-wolf-prize\/","url_meta":{"origin":99163,"position":2},"title":"Professor Charles Lieber receives Israel\u2019s Wolf Prize","author":"harvardgazette","date":"January 12, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Charles Lieber, the Mark Hyman Jr. Professor of Chemistry, was recently awarded Israel\u2019s prestigious Wolf Prize.","rel":"","context":"In "Campus & Community"","block_context":{"text":"Campus & Community","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/campus-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":62065,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2010\/09\/graphene-may-hold-key-to-speeding-up-dna-sequencing\/","url_meta":{"origin":99163,"position":3},"title":"Graphene may help speed up DNA sequencing","author":"harvardgazette","date":"September 30, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Researchers from Harvard University and MIT have demonstrated that graphene, a surprisingly robust planar sheet of carbon just one-atom thick, can act as an artificial membrane separating two liquid reservoirs.","rel":"","context":"In "Science & Tech"","block_context":{"text":"Science & Tech","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/science-technology\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":228093,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2017\/07\/chemist-charles-m-lieber-receives-harvards-highest-faculty-honor\/","url_meta":{"origin":99163,"position":4},"title":"Charles M. Lieber named University Professor","author":"harvardgazette","date":"July 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Acclaimed chemist Charles M. Lieber has been named a University Professor and is the first to receive the Joshua and Beth Friedman University Professorship.","rel":"","context":"In "Campus & Community"","block_context":{"text":"Campus & Community","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/campus-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/062817_lieber_1466_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/062817_lieber_1466_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/062817_lieber_1466_605.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58818,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2004\/07\/a-giant-step-toward-miniaturization\/","url_meta":{"origin":99163,"position":5},"title":"A giant step toward miniaturization","author":"harvardgazette","date":"July 22, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Incredibly tiny integrated circuits could have applications well beyond faster, smaller computers and cell phones with features only fantasized about today. For example, nanocircuits might make possible sensors that can detect a single virus in your blood. \"It could turn manufacturing of high-end technology upside down,\" says Charles Lieber, Mark\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Campus & Community"","block_context":{"text":"Campus & Community","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/campus-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99163","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/105622744"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99163"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99163\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":268723,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99163\/revisions\/268723"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99163"},{"taxonomy":"format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/gazette-formats?post=99163"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=99163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}