We examine the morphological and electrical characteristics ofnanowires fabricated on DNA templates via palladium (Pd) reduction.λ-DNA molecules were stretched and aligned on a mica surface using a molecular combingtechnique, followed by an electroless deposition of palladium, resulting in formation ofnanowires with nominal width of 7nm. We investigated the size distribution of nanowireswith atomic force microscopy and made electrical connections to the wires by metalevaporation through multiple shadow masks. Electrical characterization of the nanowiresunder various bias conditions, variable temperature, and with different contact metal workfunctions revealed a conduction mechanism resembling that of granular metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]