Paul Rothemund: Casting spells with DNA

Paul Rothemund is the guy who created the DNA smiley faces using what he calls "scaffolded DNA origami". He introduces this in his TED talk Casting spells with DNA. Perhaps this method can be used to shape Carbon Nanotubes into tiny nano-computers.

The current Intel Penryn processor like the one in the Apple MacBook Pro is using 45 nanometer semiconductor fabrication process. The 32 nm process is due to arrive in the 2009-2010 time frame, with the 22 nm process expected around 2010-2011. Conservative estimates put the 16 nm process arriving in 2018, but Moore's Law would like to see it happen sooner, like 2013.

DNA origami creates structures around 2 nanometers (billionths of a meter). Carbon Nanotubes can be made down to 1 nm. Perhaps using DNA origami to form carbon nanotubes into nano-computers would enable computing devices of the size and speed to continue to meet Moore's Law.