Patent ID: 8078408

Claim:
A device comprising: a template molecule linked between at least two contact points including a first contact point disposed on a first surface and a second contact point disposed on a second surface, wherein the first surface is independent of the second surface, and wherein the template molecule includes at least one recognition site for a target molecule; and a detector coupled to the first contact point and the second contact point, the first contact point and the second contact point having a first physical parameter, the detector configured to generate an output signal based on a change in the first physical parameter indicative of electrical conduction through the template molecule, wherein the change in the first physical parameter corresponds to an association between the target molecule and the template molecule, wherein a single stranded conductive nucleic acid molecule is selected as the template molecule; and wherein the template molecule, the first contact point, the detector and the second contact point form an electrical circuit, and further, wherein the detector comprises a driving circuit for providing a current or voltage through the electrical circuit for disassociating the template molecule from the target molecule.