OT: Genetic testing with a standard CD-ROM drive [Archive]

Jay Kadis

08-22-2003, 10:35 AM

In article <MPG.19affa7a73815075989735@news.chi.sbcglobal.net> Brian Takei
<btakei@mindspring.com> writes:
> "Researchers at the University of California at San Diego have found a
> way to test biological samples for the existence of protein molecules
> using a standard CD-ROM drive and inkjet printer" [and a special ink
> replacement].
>
> http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,60138,00.html

This technology is far from a genetic test. It could theoretically identify
proteins, but proteins are the product of genes, not part of genes themselves
(contrary to what a biological anthropology professor once tried to tell us.)
The genetic code is written in DNA, which is not a protein. At best it could
detect the products of genes.

It is a very clever use of a combination of technologies, however. It could
cut the cost of a lot of clinical tests involved with specific disease
diagnoses, although I'm not so sure it can be translated to a workable
production technology without a lot of work. And by that time, CD-ROMS may
well be history.

What seems a more direct path is the IC/protein combination which has the
ability to convert protein concentrations into electrical signals proportional
to the concentrations: a much more targeted and specific type of detector.
These kind of devices could monitor living systems in real time with implanted
or even swallowed IC sensors. In addition to specific proteins, this
technology can monitor ion concentrations and metabolites like glucose.

But at least now we know what we can do with all those old CD players.

-Jay
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