Stanford Engineering Puzzle

July 2006

The fight against cancer is never done but ths month we make the magnetic nanotechnology we're using more sophisticated. Here in July, we've added the ability (and hence the duty) to find multiple distinct cancer proteins. Detecting multiple molecules on one chip is entirely within the scope of MSE and EE Associate Shan Wang's research. He is developing a MagArray chip that could detect cancer proteins in lower concentrations (and therefore sooner) in a blood sample than current technologies. To review, every "target" cancer protein in a blood sample will attach only to a specific complementary "probe" protein attached to a magnetic sensor on the chip. Magnetic nanoparticles are designed to attach to the targets. Whenever a target hooks up with a probe, therefore, it will bring the nanoparticle close enough to the sensor to generate an electrical signal. Voil�, the cancer protein has been detected.

Directions for puzzle

In this puzzle you have to match up the proper target proteins with the right probe proteins. When you do, the nanoparticles will turn yellow to indicate that they are giving off their magnetic signal. When all the matches have been made, a "secret word" will be revealed. For fun we will post (below) the names of ten alumni who successfully complete the puzzle and e-mail the secret word in the subject line to staff member Marge Kastner. She'll post entry number 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, etc. up to 91.

You must have Flash installed to run this puzzle, which was designed by Scott Kim of Shufflebrain and programmed by Larry Doyle of Cyberiandesign.

"Winning" entries

1) Sean Gulley
11) Clark Barrett
21) Jasmine Lopez
31) Karen Murphy
41) Eric Verwillow
51) Eric Van Os
61) Shelby Siegel
71) Rick Doherty
81) Brian Warner
91) Vaughan Johnson