[DIYbio] Re: Ultra-Cheap DNA Printing/Sequencing

Nanoscale lasers can be accomplished through focusing two photons in 180 degree opposite phase at a single object. Destructive interference would cause the two photons to form an incredibly thin beam. 

I like the idea of Ramen spectroscopy, given that each base has its own highly unique vibrational signature. They probably do, but I personally don't know. 

The reason I recommended using carbon nanotubes is because they have a highly controllable size and can be manufactured (relatively) easily. It makes them a nice candidate for such a small chip. 

Finally, if this chip became a reality, I wouldn't say it would be limited in its scope to impact the world if it were only manufactured by a few specialized facilities in the world. Again, virtually no one can make their own CPUs yet the modern computer is essentially the foundation of our civilization at this point. This is because it totally shifts who can produce data. The Internet world isn't about producing your own hardware, it's about producing your own software. With biotech, it's about producing your own wetware, which is a very convenient way to do both. At this point, though, it costs far too much to do even the simplest things. Making wild-type E. Coli glow should cost $1 at max. This chip would allow for that. 

I'm not saying its the end-all, though. It's just the beginning. With a whole world of bioengineers, the cost of synthetic biology will drop exponentially as they build on each other's technology. Eventually, a device that can do everything I want the sequencer/synthesizer we're talking about here to do and so much more could be produced using only a small culture of a few novel cells. Our sequence/synth machinery will eventually be made by what our sequence/synth machinery originally created, just as robots make robots today. 
BUT, for that to happen, we need a world already highly involved in synthetic biology. Kind of like chicken and egg, no?
So that's why I say we figure this out. Because it will enable us to make the next generation of chips that can be made at home. It's a process we have to take one step at a time. What's really cool is that each step is exponential. 

-L