Real-Time Detection of Deoxyribonucleic Acid Bases via their Negative Differential Conductance Signature

Abstract

In this paper we present a method for the real-time detection of the bases of the deoxyribonucleic acid using their signatures in negative differential conductance measurements. The present methods of electronic detection of deoxyribonucleic acid bases are based on a statistical analysis because the electrical currents of the four bases are weak and do not differ significantly from one base to another. In contrast, we analyze a device that combines the accumulated knowledge in nanopore and scanning tunneling detection, and which is able to provide very distinctive electronic signatures for the four bases.