By combining the bricks in different patterns, they could form large numbers of distinct crystals across these categories, with simple modular design on the computer followed by self-assembly on the part of the DNA strands allowing both great precision and near infinite potential at scales up to 80 nanometers (and perhaps more in the future).

What's more, the technique could enable scalable production of new and emerging technologies, such as quantum computers. The team demonstrated that self-assembled DNA crystals made from these bricks could house gold nanoparticles inserted into slots less than two nanometers apart from each other along the crystal structure – a feat that's important for strong plasmonic coupling, which would make the technique useful in photovoltaic devices like solar cells.

The researchers expect DNA crystals to also prove useful in developing more versatile inorganic circuits and other nanoscale technologies. The technique could also aid in protein crystallography, which studies protein structures at atomic resolutions for applications in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and the academic field of structural biology.

Eoin Treacy's view

At a basic level all digital data is made up of 1s and 0s. DNA pairs of As with Ts and Cs with Gs represent a logical avenue for additional work in creating novel new programing languages with a biotechnology objective. It is only a matter of time before this sector develops to the extent that novel solutions can be printed using additive manufacturing. This innovation can be seen as one more incremental step towards full customisable medicine. 

While biotechnology and nanotechnology companies currently dominate the performance of indices such as the Nasdaq-100, the secular growth potential of the sector remains undiminished. Nevertheless, we need to continue to temper personal enthusiasm with the consistency of trends. 

The Market Vectors Biotech ETF broke out of a new high yesterday, having found support in the region of the 200-day MA last week. A sustained move below the trend mean, currently near $42.50, would be required to question potential for additional upside.