A straightforward, two step method for the self-assembly of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) between gold electrodes is presented. The technique utilizes the hybridization between short complementary DNA sequences located on metal contacts and SWNTs. The new technique enables simple production of hundreds of devices with high yields. The electrical characteristics are shown to depend strongly on the existence of the chemical binding group, and are controlled by the transport through these groups. The current measured is larger by two orders of magnitude than the values reported for direct metal-SWNT contacts. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.