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An accurate identification of amino acids have been demonstrated by researchers in a recent study. 

The identification process involves pinning each in a narrow junction between a pair of flanking electrodes and ultimately measuring a characteristic chain of current spikes that pass through the successive amino acid molecules.

After the inception of the Human Genome Project in 2003, some three billion base pairs have been identified that make up the human genome. It has been also found that proteins can yield far more significant revelation that from DNA alone and if there was a proper method. This study is an important step towards such development.

Researchers used a machine learning algorithm and trained a computer to recognize bursts of electrical activity representing the momentary binding of an amino acid in that junction. 

They showed noise signals as reliable fingerprints that identified amino acids. The findings also included subtly modified variants.

At present proteins are already providing a wealth of information regarding diseases such as cancer, diabetes and neurological disorders like Alzheimer's. 

"We probably don't even know about most of the proteins that would be important in diagnostics. It's just a black hole to us because the concentrations are too low for current analytical techniques," said Stuart Lindsay at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute, in the press release adding that the ability of recognition tunneling to pinpoint abnormalities on a single molecule basis "could be a complete game changer in proteomics."

"People think it's crazy but the technical tools are there and what will work for DNA sequencing will work for protein sequencing."

The developments of the study have been reported in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.