Israeli-led researchers measure electric current in DNA, may help detect cancer, Covid-19

An Israeli-led research team located and measured an electric current in DNA molecules, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) reported on Monday.

The finding is already being used for developing electronic detectors for rapid and sensitive detection of cancer markers and coronavirus.

It could also help build DNA-based electronic circuits, for tiny switches, transistors and more.

In a study published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, researchers from HU and Tel Aviv University in central Israel, together with their colleagues in Cyprus, India, Spain and the United States, discovered a significant long electric current in DNA molecules.

They were surprised to find out that the charge transport passed through the DNA backbone, which is the outer part of the DNA's double helix, composed of sugar and phosphate.

The researchers found that the current passing through the DNA is not affected by changes in the DNA's base sequence cells, which determine the genetic code, and thus concluded that the current passes through the external backbone.