Chip set-up and high-accuracy nucleic acid sequencing

1. A device for use in molecular sensing comprising one or more nanopores in a membrane disposed upon at least one membrane incompatible surface in sensing proximity to an electrode coupled to an integrated circuit, wherein said membrane comprising said one or more nanopores exhibits a capacitance greater than about 5 fF/μm2 and a conductance less than about 10 nano Siemens per mole of electrolyte per nanopore as measured by said electrode under an applied voltage of at least about 50 mV.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said integrated circuit is an individually addressable integrated circuit.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said integrated circuit comprises a logic controller.

4. A method for sequencing a nucleic acid molecule, comprising:

(a) providing a chip comprising an array of sensors, wherein an individual sensor of said array of sensors comprises a membrane adjacent to a sensing electrode, wherein said membrane comprises at least one nanopore configured to aid in the detection of one or more nucleic acid bases of said nucleic acid molecule or portion thereof upon the flow of said nucleic acid molecule or portion thereof through or adjacent to said at least one nanopore;

(b) directing said nucleic acid molecule to said individual sensor;

(c) applying a series of electrical pulses to said membrane upon directing said nucleic acid molecule to said individual sensor; and

(d) detecting one or more nucleic acid bases of said nucleic acid molecule or portion thereof between said series of electrical pulses.

5. A method for sequencing a nucleic acid molecule, comprising:

(a) providing a chip comprising an array of individual sensors, wherein an individual sensor of said array comprises an electrode that is disposed adjacent to a membrane having a nanopore therein, wherein said electrode is coupled to an electrical circuit that is adapted to generate an electrical signal to aid in the detection of said nucleic acid molecule or a portion thereof upon the flow of said nucleic acid molecule or portion thereof through or in proximity to said nanopore;

(b) directing said nucleic acid molecule or portion thereof through or in proximity to said nanopore; and

(c) identifying a nucleic acid sequence of said nucleic acid molecule or portion thereof at an accuracy of at least about 97%.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said nucleic acid sequence is generated with the aid of a computer processor coupled to said electrical circuit.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said individual sensor is independently addressable.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein said nucleic acid molecule comprises a tag that is detected by said nanopore upon the incorporation of complementary nucleic acid bases into said nucleic acid molecule.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein said nucleic acid sequence of said nucleic acid molecule or portion thereof is identified by combining data collected from at least 10 passes of said nucleic acid molecule or portion thereof through or in proximity to said nanopore.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said nucleic acid sequence of said nucleic acid molecule or portion thereof is identified by combining data collected from at least 20 passes of said nucleic acid molecule or portion thereof through or in proximity to said nanopore.

11. A system for sequencing a nucleic acid molecule, comprising:

(a) a chip comprising an array of individual sensors, wherein an individual sensor of said array comprises an electrode that is disposed adjacent to a membrane having a nanopore therein, wherein said electrode is coupled to an electrical circuit that is adapted to generate an electrical signal to aid in the detection of said nucleic acid molecule or a portion thereof upon the flow of said nucleic acid molecule or portion thereof through or adjacent to said nanopore; and

(b) a processor coupled to said chip, wherein said processor is programmed to aid in characterizing a nucleic acid sequence of said nucleic acid molecule based on electrical signals received from said plurality of discrete sites at an accuracy of at least about 97%.

12. A system for sensing a biological sample from a subject, the system comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a sensor within the housing, the sensor having an electrical circuit adjacent to a membrane with a nanopore therein, wherein the electrical circuit is adapted to generate an electrical signal in response to the biological sample flowing through or adjacent to the nanopore; and

c) an identification member on or within the housing, the identification member having a unique identifier associated with the system and adapted to aid in associating the electrical signal, or characteristic information derived from the electrical signal, with the subject.

13. A method for manipulating a fluid on a surface, comprising:

(a) providing a surface, an array of electrodes in proximity to the surface, and a fluid comprising a hydrophilic phase and a hydrophobic phase, wherein said hydrophobic phase is adjacent to said surface; and

(b) energizing the electrodes in a spatial and/or temporal pattern, thereby decreasing a volume of said hydrophobic phase in relation to said hydrophilic phase in proximity to said electrodes.

14. A biochip, comprising a nanopore in a membrane that is disposed within, adjacent to, or in proximity to a well, wherein the well comprises an electrode that is capable of detecting a change in the flow of ions through said nanopore in response to a species passing through, in proximity to, or adjacent to the nanopore, wherein said electrode is capable of detecting said change in the flow of ions for at least 1 hour without re-adjusting the ion concentrations on either side of the membrane.

15. A method for forming a biochip, the method comprising:

(a) providing a semiconductor substrate;

(b) forming a plurality of wells in said semiconductor substrate at a density of at least 500 wells/mm2;

(c) forming an electrode in an individual well of said plurality, wherein said electrode is capable of performing electrical measurements of detectable species that are disposed on or adjacent to the semiconductor substrate, and wherein said electrode has an operating life of at least 15 minutes with 40 mV applied potential; and

(d) preparing the substrate for the formation of a membrane that seals the individual well at a resistivity of at least about 10 gigaohms.