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Related Concept Videos

The DNA Helix01:07

The DNA Helix

Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is the genetic material responsible for passing traits from generation to generation in all organisms and most viruses. DNA is composed of two strands of nucleotides that wind around each other to form a spring-like structure called a double helix. However, the double helix is not perfectly symmetrical. Instead, there are regularly occurring grooves in the structure. The major groove occurs where the sugar-phosphate backbones are relatively far apart. This space...
The DNA Helix01:16

The DNA Helix

Overview
The DNA Helix01:16

The DNA Helix

Overview
DNA as a Genetic Template02:05

DNA as a Genetic Template

Two structural features of the DNA molecule provide a basis for the mechanisms of heredity: the four nucleotide bases and its double-stranded nature. The Watson-Crick model of double-helical DNA structure, proposed in 1952, drew heavily upon the X-ray crystallography work of researchers Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. Watson, Crick, and Wilkins jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work in 1962. Franklin was, controversially, excluded from the prize for...
DNA as a Genetic Template02:05

DNA as a Genetic Template

Two structural features of the DNA molecule provide a basis for the mechanisms of heredity: the four nucleotide bases and its double-stranded nature. The Watson-Crick model of double-helical DNA structure, proposed in 1952, drew heavily upon the X-ray crystallography work of researchers Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins. Watson, Crick, and Wilkins jointly received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work in 1962. Franklin was, controversially, excluded from the prize for...
The Nucleosome01:19

The Nucleosome

Human DNA is almost two meters long. However, it is compressed inside a tiny nucleus measuring only a few microns in diameter. To make this degree of compaction possible, DNA is organized into several sequential levels so that it can fit into such a tiny space. The most compact form of DNA is a chromosome that can be seen under a microscope in a dividing cell.
In a chromosome, DNA is wound twice around a protein complex called a histone octamer core, which consists of 8 histone proteins. This...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

Self-assembly of Complex Two-dimensional Shapes from Single-stranded DNA Tiles
10:23

Self-assembly of Complex Two-dimensional Shapes from Single-stranded DNA Tiles

Published on: May 8, 2015

Three-dimensional structures self-assembled from DNA bricks.

Yonggang Ke1, Luvena L Ong, William M Shih

  • 1Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|December 1, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Scientists created complex 3D shapes using DNA bricks, which are short synthetic DNA strands. These DNA bricks self-assemble into precise structures, enabling the construction of intricate molecular designs.

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16:24

Analyzing and Building Nucleic Acid Structures with 3DNA

Published on: April 26, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology and synthetic biology
  • Nanotechnology and materials science
  • DNA nanotechnology

Background:

  • Complex three-dimensional (3D) structures are crucial in various scientific fields.
  • Current methods for constructing nanoscale 3D objects can be complex and time-consuming.
  • DNA nanotechnology offers a promising platform for precise molecular assembly.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a simple and robust method for constructing complex 3D structures using DNA.
  • To demonstrate the self-assembly capabilities of synthetic DNA bricks into predefined shapes.
  • To establish a versatile platform for creating intricate nanoscale architectures.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing short synthetic DNA strands, termed "DNA bricks," as modular components.
  • Employing one-step annealing reactions for self-assembly of hundreds of distinct DNA bricks.
  • Defining molecular interactions via 8-base pair binding, with each interaction forming a voxel.
  • Establishing a "molecular canvas" of 10x10x10 voxels for shape programming.

Main Results:

  • Successfully constructed 102 distinct 3D shapes using subsets of DNA bricks from the master collection.
  • Demonstrated the ability to create sophisticated surface features, intricate interior cavities, and tunnels.
  • Each 32-nucleotide DNA brick acts as a modular component, binding to four local neighbors.
  • Each DNA brick-mediated interaction defines a voxel of 2.5 x 2.5 x 2.7 nanometers.

Conclusions:

  • The DNA brick method provides a simple, robust, and scalable approach for building complex 3D nanoscale structures.
  • This technique enables precise control over shape complexity, including internal features.
  • DNA bricks offer a versatile platform for applications in synthetic biology, nanotechnology, and beyond.