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Inorganic Chromosome based in Silicon (InChroSil) is an electronic circuit emulates the structure and connections of the organic DNA, without chemical reaction, using electronic components. With this minimal electronic unit (pair of nucleotides or Inchrosil, see Figure 1), it is possible create devices for storage and analysis of DNA sequences, also complex circuit to do DNA computing (see Figure 2). This device was developed using the standard technology Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS).
Contents
History
InChroSil and its systems were invented and patented in 2006 by three siblings, Silvia, Carlos and Jose Daniel Llopis at home with few economic resources. The first prototype was a single nucleotide pair and was the size of a paper sheet. It was later improved into an integrated circuit in a configuration commonly referred to as a hybrid integrated circuit.
Currently prototypes are being built in the clean room of Microsystems Technology Laboratories MTL of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Threellop Nanotechnology Inc is the owner of the patent.
Inchrosil characteristics
InChroSil permits the storage of genetic information in less space (88 percent savings), with higher performance It can store the entire structure of the DNA (principal and secondary chains), meaning InChroSil can store and represent even incomplete chains including the existent holes within the DNA chain.
This device uses non‐volatile rewritable digital memory and is also able to store non‐genetic binary information in the nucleotides in a more compact form while retaining device, hardware and software compatibility.
Adleman's experiment
Leonard Adleman's experiment computing a Hamiltonian path using DNA components, was rebuilt by the Llopis siblings with inorganic electronic components. This system was intended to be less perishable than the organic materials and chemical reactions in industrial environments.
Uses for Inchrosil
Inchrosil is used mostly for mass storage of DNA sequences, with potential uses being: