The latest bio-sensor translates the presence of DNA into an electrical signal for computer analysis. The distinctively designed sensor chip has the ability to detect DNA more efficiently by 'sandwiching' the DNA strands between the two different surfaces.

Conventionally, human DNA is detected through the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which, while effective, is also expensive, cumbersome and time-consuming for widespread use.

The research was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.