Nucleic acid sequencer for electrically determining a sequence of nitrogenous bases in a single stranded nucleic acid

A nucleic acid sequencer to electrically determine a sequence of nitrogenous bases in a single stranded nucleic acid, the nucleic acid sequencer comprising:

• an atomically thin membrane;
• a solid electrode spaced apart from the atomically thin membrane and arranged in a capacitive configuration with the atomically thin membrane;
• a spacer member interposed between the atomically thin membrane and the solid electrode and comprising:
• a first surface on which the atomically thin membrane is disposed;
• and
• a second surface on which the solid electrode is disposed, such that the spacer member provides a selected distance between the atomically thin membrane and the solid electrode;
• a complementary base covalently disposed on the atomically thin membrane and arranged to base pair with a nitrogenous base of the single stranded nucleic acid;
• a power source in electrical communication with the solid electrode and that provides electrical power to the solid electrode;
• and
• a resistor in electrical communication with the power source and that receives electric current from the power source and that also is in electrical communication with the atomically thin membrane such that an amount of the electric current changes in response to a change in the selected distance between the atomically thin membrane and the solid electrode.