Sensor instantly detects cocaine in blood

**Iria** · Mar 1, 2006, 03:17 PM

Researchers have created a sensor to instantly test for cocaine in a person's blood, streamlining a process that otherwise takes hours.

The group, made up of two scientists from the University of California at Santa Barbara and two high school students, said the sensor could also conceivably be used to test for exposure to biotoxins and other substances.

The sensor contains a specific, artificially fabricated DNA molecule that reacts when it meets cocaine. In seconds, the molecule turns from a floppy, formless shape into a rigid structure. When adding a cocaine-contaminated blood sample to the sensor, the change can be instantly measured by sending electrons through the DNA and seeing how they travel.

"The sensor can be built into a portable, handheld platform, and (the test) can be done here, in real time, within a few minutes, not a few hours," said Alan Heeger, a physics professor and Nobel Prize winner, who is part of the research team.
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Read More / Source: News.com

**Vikingod** · Mar 1, 2006, 03:31 PM

ah, who needs a sensor. Its easy to tell by the way they won't SHFU, ever... even if they are bleeding from the head, or on fire, or it's three in the morning and they called you on the phone to let you know "Caddy Shack" is on no channel 9, and its not editted, and wow is that a funny movie.. or hey, man, have you heard the new Green Day album, its really good, like that new restaurant on 2nd street, the italian place, man are Italian women a head ache, I had an ex girlfriend that was Italian, she was hot, tommorrow its supposed to be like 100 degrees... do you want to go golfing, I got this great Tiger woods game its on my PS2 and its really fun like that time we went to that waterpark and it was really hot out... so what do ya say man, does that sound good?

Clubber · Mar 1, 2006, 05:03 PM

I'm sorry I'll stop calling so late

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**dj_stick** · Mar 1, 2006, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vikingod

ah, who needs a sensor. Its easy to tell by the way they won't SHFU, ever... even if they are bleeding from the head, or on fire, or it's three in the morning and they called you on the phone to let you know "Caddy Shack" is on no channel 9, and its not editted, and wow is that a funny movie.. or hey, man, have you heard the new Green Day album, its really good, like that new restaurant on 2nd street, the italian place, man are Italian women a head ache, I had an ex girlfriend that was Italian, she was hot, tommorrow its supposed to be like 100 degrees... do you want to go golfing, I got this great Tiger woods game its on my PS2 and its really fun like that time we went to that waterpark and it was really hot out... so what do ya say man, does that sound good?

sounds like that happens to you fairly often