Microelectronic components and electronic networks comprising dna

Abstract

Microelectronic network devices and components are fabricated by binding or complexing at least one electronically functional substance to a molecular fiber, such as a nucleic acid fiber. The devices and components can be combined by interconnecting the complexed fibers to provide microelectronic circuits or networks. Assembly processes involve interactions of various combinations of the fibers and substances used in fabrication.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of constructing an electronic device comprising:
 binding a p-type substance to a fiber including at least one nucleotide chain;   binding an n-type substance to the fiber; and   treating a portion of the fiber to form a conductor.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of binding an oligonucleotide to the nucleotide chain. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising a semi-conducting polymer segment in the fiber. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the semi-conducting polymer segment includes either the n-type or the p-type substance. 
     
     
         5 . A method of constructing a switch component comprising:
 forming at least two conductive nucleotide fibers; and   joining respective ends the conductive nucleotide fibers to a molecular fragment to form a switch, wherein   the molecular fragment has a modifiable conductivity.   
     
     
         6 . A method of operating a switch component comprising:
 joining respective ends of a pair of conductive nucleotide fibers to a molecular fragment to form a switch, the molecular fragment having a modifiable conductivity; and   modifying the conductive state of the molecular fragment.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of modifying the conductive state of the molecular fragment includes directing light energy onto the molecular fragment. 
     
     
         8 . A method of constructing a single electron transistor comprising:
 binding an interface component with three oligonucleotides, one of the oligonucleotides being bound to the interface component by way of a non-conducting complexing agent; and   hybridizing each of three nucleotide-based fibers respectively to each of the three oligonucleotides.   
     
     
         9 . A method of constructing a single electron transistor as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising layering insulation on the interface component. 
     
     
         10 . A method of constructing a single electron transistor as recited in  claim 9 , including depositing one or more substances, molecules, clusters of atoms or molecules, or particles onto each of the fibers to form conductors.