Methods for producing semiconductor nanoparticles

4-5. (canceled)

8-9. (canceled)

13-14. (canceled)

A method of making semiconductor nanoparticles comprising:

• providing a bacterial organism;
• placing the bacterial organism in an aqueous environment comprising a metal salt for a time sufficient for the bacterial organism to ingest the metal salt and to assemble semiconductor nanoparticles, and
• harvesting the semiconductor nanoparticles without requiring lysis of the bacterial organism, wherein the semiconductor nanoparticles have an average particle size of between about 1 nm to about 10 nm.

20-22. (canceled)

24-25. (canceled)

A method of making semiconductor crystals comprising:

• providing a bacterial organism;
• placing the bacterial organism in an aqueous environment comprising cadmium for a time sufficient for the bacterial organism to ingest the cadmium and to assemble semiconductor nanoparticles, and
• harvesting the semiconductor nanoparticles wherein the semiconductor nanoparticles comprise semiconductor crystals that are soluble in water.

(canceled)

31-32. (canceled)

(canceled)