  We demonstrate that biological molecules such as Watson-Crick DNA base pairs
can behave as biological Aviram-Ratner electrical rectifiers because of the
spatial separation and weak hydrogen bonding between the nucleobases. We have
performed a parallel computational implementation of the ab-initio
non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) theory to determine the electrical
response of graphene---base-pair---graphene junctions. The results show an
asymmetric (rectifying) current-voltage response for the Cytosine-Guanine base
pair adsorbed on a graphene nanogap. In sharp contrast we find a symmetric
response for the Thymine-Adenine case. We propose applying the asymmetry of the
current-voltage response as a sensing criterion to the technological challenge
of rapid DNA sequencing via graphene nanogaps.
