000 the surface provides for bonding of dna while also allowing easy recovery of dna from the surface also provided is a process for purifying dna which comprises contacting dna with a composition of the formula str9 wherein r 39 is oh r is sio 2 and r 34 is oh or repeating units of the composition comprising the formula str10 wherein r 39 is independently oh or str11 r is sio 2 and r 34 is independently oh or str12 reaction products of hydrating reagents and sio 2 are also provided the invention also provides a method for making the composition of the formula str13 wherein r 39 is oh r is sio 2 and r 34 is str14 and repeating units of the composition comprising the formula str15 wherein r 39 is independently oh or str16 r is sio 2 and r 34 is independently oh or str17 repeating units described above can include from about 2 up to infinity ranges include about 2 to 100 000 000 and about 2 to 100 000 generally reaction products of hydrating reagents and sio 2 result in a bead like structure comprising repeating units of the above referenced monomer unit it is possible that the electronic nature of this polymer is such that surface modifications can be made that are of a more conventional nature but are changed electronically due to the presence of this polymer being at the center of the bead making it a more efficient surface for the purposes.