MSNBC featured a newly published paper in Nature Nanotechnology which - can't speak for others - struck me as very significant work.  In the paper, bacteria are studied which provide for nanofilaments and films which conduct electricity at relatively high conductivities.  The conductive materials are amino acid based.  One can regulate the gene expression; one can build transistors; etc. etc. !  The paper is entitled "Tunable Metallic-Like Conductivity in Microbial Nanowire Networks."  Also striking is that the work arises out of a Physics Department rather than a biology or chemistry department.  The work originates out of University of Massachusetts.

Protein electronic conductivity was recently reviewed.  Also, last year, MSNBC also featured an article "Nanowire-Armed Bacteria are more than Alive."

Concepts of electronic transport in biological material is not new, of course.  However, solid state or "dry" electronic conductors with higher, metallic-like conductivity?

Interesting patent strategies would seem present, particularly in view of the current "Myriad" case controversies about patenting materials found in or derived from nature.

Subject to the usual carefulness and skepticism required by science and law, ...simply amazing.