Insulating Behavior of λ-DNA on the Micron Scale

We have investigated the electrical conductivity of λ-DNA using DNA covalently bonded to Au electrodes. Thiol-modified dTTP was incorporated into the “sticky” ends of bacteriophage λ-DNA using DNA polymerase. Two-probe measurements on such molecules provide a hard lower bound for the resistivity ρ>10⁶Ω cm at bias potentials up to 20 V, in conflict with recent claims of moderate to high conductivity. By direct imaging, we show that the molecules are present after the measurements. We stress the importance of eliminating salt residues in these measurements.