First Genetically Evolved Semiconductor Material Synthesized

[TECH NEWS]

In the not-too-distant future, scientists may be able to use DNA to grow their own specialized materials, thanks to the concept of directed evolution. UC Santa Barbara scientists have, for the first time, used genetic engineering and molecular evolution to develop the enzymatic synthesis of a semiconductor. “In the realm of human technologies it would be a new method, but it’s an ancient approach in nature,” said Lukmaan Bawazer, first author of the paper, “Evolutionary selection of enzymatically synthesized semiconductors from biomimetic mineralization vesicles,” published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Daniel Morse, UCSB professor emeritus of biochemistry of molecular genetics, directed the research. Using silicateins, proteins responsible for the formation of silica skeletons in marine sponges, the researchers were able to generate new mineral architectures by directing the evolution of these enzymes. Silicateins, which are genetically encoded, serve as templates for the silica skeletons and control their mineralization.

 June 13, 2012, University of California Santa Barbara