X-Message-Number: 8290
Date: Sat, 07 Jun 1997 14:03:01 -0400
From: Kenneth Roberts <>
Subject: BREAKING STORY!!!  NANONEWS UPDATE--JUNE 5th        (2)

>Date: Fri, 6 Jun 1997 13:49:00 -0700
>To: 
>From:  (Paul Green)
>Subject: BREAKING STORY!!!  NANONEWS UPDATE--JUNE 5th        (2)
>
>BREAKING STORY!!!  NANONEWS UPDATE--JUNE 5th
>
>
>Nanomachines from "Down Under"!
>
>Australian scientists, after a decade of secret research, unveiled a
>microscopic machine Thursday that could revolutionize disease
>diagnosis and drug testing. The "nanomachine" is a tiny biosensor that
>combines biology and physics -- with moving parts the size of
>molecules -- to detect molecules and identify minute amounts of
>substances. Research team leader Bruce Cornell said the sensitive
>device can detect a range of substances, including drugs, hormones,
>viruses and pesticides and can identify gene sequences.
>
>
>"Tiny" Australian nanomachine gives answers in a nanosecond.
>
>
> CANBERRA, June 5 (Reuters).
>
>Australian scientists, after a decade of secret research, on Thursday
>unveiled a microscopic machine that could revolutionise disease diagnosis
>and drug
>testing.
>
>The "nanomachine" is a tiny biosensor that combines biology
>and physics -- with moving parts the size of molecules -- to
>detect molecules and identify minute amounts of substances.
>
>Research team leader Bruce Cornell said the sensitive device
>can detect a range of substances, including drugs, hormones,
>viruses and pesticides and can identify gene sequences.
>
>"This biosensor is a unique blend of the ability of biology
>to identify individual types of molecule in complex mixtures,
>with the speed, convenience and low cost of microelectronics,''
>Cornell, from the Cooperative Research Centre for Molecular
>Engineering and Technology, said in a statement.
>
>The sensor, tipped to be a billion dollar bonanza for Australia
>when it goes into commercial production in about two
>years, is the world's first functioning nanomachine -- machines
>with parts measured in billionths of a metre.
>
>Cornell and his team say it is so sensitive that if one
>sugar cube was thrown into Australia's world famous Sydney
>Harbour, it could measure the increased sugar content.
>The device will allow simple detection of almost all
>diseases within minutes from a small blood or saliva sample --
>ending the need to wait days for pathology test results.
>It can also identify minute amounts of drugs and bacteria.
>
>"We are designing them to be very simple to operate, we've
>even had corporate lawyers working them,'' said Cornell.
>Using a technique described as ``biology on a stick,'' the
>machine essentially copies the body's sensing mechanisms by
>chemically tethering a synthetic membrane onto a piece of
>plastic.
>
>The central component is a tiny electrical switch, 1.5
>billionths of a metre in size, which acts as an ion-channel.
>"Our technology converts immediately the biochemistry into
>an electrical signal,'' Cornell said.
>The nanomachine is inserted into a hand-held unit, which
>holds the sample and interprets the nanomachine's electronic
>signals.
>
>The nanomachines are also expected to be used to monitor
>food safety and quality and environmental monitoring.
>
>Regards,
>
>
>Paul W. Green
>Chairman
>
>====================================================================
>Nanothinc, A California Corporation
>1797 Union Street
>San Francisco, CA 94123
>Phone: (415) 202-9969, Fax: (415) 202-9975, Email: 
>Web Site: http://www.nanothinc.com
>====================================================================
>
>
>

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