The laboratory environment has long been an essential part of scientific testing and experimentation. This is especially true for forensic biologists. However, a recent invention may change all that. Researchers at the University of Michigan, headed by Dr. Mark A. Burns, announced a breakthrough in DNA testing that would save an immense amount of time and money. They developed a "lab in a chip", made of silicon, that will make it easier to identify crime suspects, diagnose diseases, categorize endangered species, and perform other DNA-testing tasks.

     The research, financed with $3 million in grants from the National Institute of Health, was conducted by a team of engineering and genetic scientists over five years. Each chip is smaller than a child's little finger and, according to Dr. Burns, would cost less than $6 to manufacture. Wholesale production of the chip can further reduce costs significantly. The portability and time and cost-effectiveness of this chip makes it particularly useful in this field, where, often at crime scenes, DNA and other biological evidence is scarce and must be retrieved quickly.

     The chip automatically analyzes DNA samples and reports the results electronically. It includes systems for: metering, measuring, mixing microscopic liquid samples of DNA with reagents, moving the mixtures to a temperature-controlled area, separating DNA molecules by size (through gel electrophoresis), and determining the results with an on-board fluorescence detector. All parts of this procedure are placed on a glass-and-silicon wafer, aside from external light and air-pressure sources. One key to micro-fabricating the chip was the team's development of a photo-lithographic technique for etching precise regions which keep water out of the injections channels of the silicon layer.

     Unlike conventional testing, instruments using the chip do not require intervention by lab personnel or robots during the procedure. Using the chip will not only lessen the time and cost of conducting DNA tests, but less biological evidence will be required in the process.