a system and method for forming one or more nanometer sized openings in a detecting region of an object , such as a semiconductor device that is used for identifying the individual mers of long - chain polymers , such as carbohydrates and proteins , as well as individual bases of deoxyribonucleic acid or ribonucleic acid , to thus enable sequencing of the strand to be performed . the system and method employ the operations of positioning a mask pattern including a plurality of mask lines at a first orientation with respect to the mask on the semiconductor , and imposing the mask pattern on the mask to create first mask lines extending in a first direction along the mask . the system and method then move the mask pattern to a second orientation with respect to the mask on the semiconductor , and impose the mask pattern on the mask to create second mask lines extending in a second direction along the mask which is transverse to the first direction and overlapping the first mask lines , such that said surface of said object is exposed at areas of said mask between said first and second mask . the system and method further remove portions of the semiconductor at the removed portions of the mask to form the openings in the semiconductor .