Nadrian Seeman
Encyclopedia
Nadrian C. "Ned" Seeman is an American nanotechnologist
and crystallographer
known for inventing the field of DNA nanotechnology
.
Seeman studied biochemistry at the University of Chicago
and crystallography at the University of Pittsburgh
. He became a faculty member at the State University of New York at Albany, and in 1988 moved to the Department of Chemistry at New York University
.
He is most noted for his development of the concept of DNA nanotechnology
beginning in the early 1980s. In fall 1980, while at a campus pub, Seeman was inspired by the M. C. Escher
woodcut Depth to realize that a three-dimensional lattice could be constructed from DNA. He realized that this could be used to orient target molecules, simplifying their crystallographic study by eliminating the difficult process of obtaining pure crystals. In pursuit of this goal, Seeman's laboratory published the synthesis of the first three-dimensional nanoscale object, a cube made of DNA, in 1991. This work won the 1995 Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology.
The concepts of DNA nanotechnology later found further applications in DNA computing
, DNA nanorobotics
, and self-assembly
of nanoelectronics
. He shared the Kavli Prize
in Nanoscience 2010 with Donald Eigler
“for their development of unprecedented methods to control matter on the nanoscale.”
The goal of demonstrating designed three-dimensional DNA crystals was achieved by Seeman in 2009, nearly thirty years after his original elucidation of the idea.
—The synthesis of the DNA cube
—The synthesis of two-dimensional periodic lattices of double crossover molecules
—The first DNA-based nanomechanical device
—A popular science article explaining the field of DNA nanotechnology
—The synthesis of three-dimensional periodic lattices of tensegrity triangle molecules
—A DNA-based molecular assembly line
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
and crystallographer
Crystallographer
Crystallographer could refer to someone who practices:*X-ray crystallography*Crystallography...
known for inventing the field of DNA nanotechnology
DNA nanotechnology
DNA nanotechnology is a branch of nanotechnology which uses the molecular recognition properties of DNA and other nucleic acids to create designed, artificial structures out of DNA for technological purposes. In this field, DNA is used as a structural material rather than as a carrier of genetic...
.
Seeman studied biochemistry at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and crystallography at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. He became a faculty member at the State University of New York at Albany, and in 1988 moved to the Department of Chemistry at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
.
He is most noted for his development of the concept of DNA nanotechnology
DNA nanotechnology
DNA nanotechnology is a branch of nanotechnology which uses the molecular recognition properties of DNA and other nucleic acids to create designed, artificial structures out of DNA for technological purposes. In this field, DNA is used as a structural material rather than as a carrier of genetic...
beginning in the early 1980s. In fall 1980, while at a campus pub, Seeman was inspired by the M. C. Escher
M. C. Escher
Maurits Cornelis Escher , usually referred to as M. C. Escher , was a Dutch graphic artist. He is known for his often mathematically inspired woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints...
woodcut Depth to realize that a three-dimensional lattice could be constructed from DNA. He realized that this could be used to orient target molecules, simplifying their crystallographic study by eliminating the difficult process of obtaining pure crystals. In pursuit of this goal, Seeman's laboratory published the synthesis of the first three-dimensional nanoscale object, a cube made of DNA, in 1991. This work won the 1995 Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology.
The concepts of DNA nanotechnology later found further applications in DNA computing
DNA computing
DNA computing is a form of computing which uses DNA, biochemistry and molecular biology, instead of the traditional silicon-based computer technologies. DNA computing, or, more generally, biomolecular computing, is a fast developing interdisciplinary area...
, DNA nanorobotics
DNA machine
A DNA machine is a molecular machine constructed from DNA. Research into DNA machines was pioneered in the late 1980s by Nadrian Seeman and co-workers from New York University...
, and self-assembly
Self-assembly
Self-assembly is a term used to describe processes in which a disordered system of pre-existing components forms an organized structure or pattern as a consequence of specific, local interactions among the components themselves, without external direction...
of nanoelectronics
Nanoelectronics
Nanoelectronics refer to the use of nanotechnology on electronic components, especially transistors. Although the term nanotechnology is generally defined as utilizing technology less than 100 nm in size, nanoelectronics often refer to transistor devices that are so small that inter-atomic...
. He shared the Kavli Prize
Kavli Prize
The Kavli Prize was established in 2005 through a joint venture between the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, and The Kavli Foundation...
in Nanoscience 2010 with Donald Eigler
Donald Eigler
Donald M. Eigler is a physicist and IBM Fellow at the IBM Almaden Research Center. On September 28, 1989 he achieved a landmark in humankind’s ability to build small structures by demonstrating the ability to manipulate individual atoms with atomic-scale precision...
“for their development of unprecedented methods to control matter on the nanoscale.”
The goal of demonstrating designed three-dimensional DNA crystals was achieved by Seeman in 2009, nearly thirty years after his original elucidation of the idea.
Notable publications
—An early paper outlining the concepts of DNA nanotechnology—The synthesis of the DNA cube
—The synthesis of two-dimensional periodic lattices of double crossover molecules
—The first DNA-based nanomechanical device
—A popular science article explaining the field of DNA nanotechnology
—The synthesis of three-dimensional periodic lattices of tensegrity triangle molecules
—A DNA-based molecular assembly line