Because of their nanometer sizes and molecular recognition capabilities, biological systems have garnered much attention as vehicles for the directed assembly of nanoscale materials. One of the great challenges of this research however has been to usefully couple biological systems with electronic materials, such as semiconductors and metals. We are developing new methods for coupling these materials, such as DNA and proteins, with electronic materials to address specific materials challenges in fabricating nanomaterials. More specifically, we have recently discovered that by inhibiting self-recognition and hence, pairing between two complementary genomic DNA strands, one can use these isolated single strands of DNA to disperse single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in aqueous solvents. The dispersal involves wrapping the single stranded DNA (ssDNA) in a periodic fashion around individual SWNTs. We are currently investigating the use of these DNA wrapped SWNTs to aid in both SWNT purification and the directed assembly of the SWNTs into functional device architectures. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is used to observe the assembly. Other areas of interest are in interfacing biological systems with magnetic or photonic materials.