DNA Logic-A novel approach to semiconductor based genetics

Abstract

In the coming years, genetic test results will be increasingly used as indicators that influence medical decision-making. With chronic disease on the rise and the continuing global spread of infectious disease, novel instruments able to detect relevant mutations in a point-of-care setting are being developed to facilitate this increased demand in personalized health care. However, diagnosis for such demand often requires laboratory facilities and skilled personnel, meaning that diagnostic tests are restricted by time and access. This thesis presents a novel configuration for Ion sensitive Field Effect Transistors (ISFETs) to be used as a threshold detector during nucleic acid base pairs match. ISFET-based inverters are used as reaction threshold detectors to convey the chemical reaction level to a logic output once a threshold has been reached. Using this method, novel DNA logic functions are derived for nucleotides allowing local digital computations. The thesis also presents business models that enable such technology to be utilised in point of care applications, and experiment as results and business models given for an HIV point of care example are proposed.