DNA origami allows the construction of complex structures at the nanoscale!Simply put, the process a

DNA origami allows the construction of complex structures at the nanoscale!Simply put, the process allows a single DNA strand of considerable length to be folded onto itself and held together at determinable points by shorter sections of DNA called staples. Thanks to the very specific way that DNA bases pair with one another, it’s possible to draw nearly any shape, 2D or 3D, with a computer which can then produce an output describing the exact sequence of bases needed to create the model.  Perhaps the best part of all of this is that the strands don’t need to be folded manually; so long as the sequence is right, the chemistry does all the work by itself! Hence, DNA origami is a promising way in which nanoscale synthesis can be accomplished.  DNA origami can go further than just producing minuscule smiley faces, however. Research has already shown applications in making tiny locking boxes needing keys to open and nanorobots capable of rivaling an 8-bit computer in terms of processing power. The applications for nanomedicine and controlled drug delivery are enormous! Research at Cambridge University has demonstrated that it may be possible to control the size and shape of structures at the nanoscale using DNA origami better than even graphene allows using current techniques. This technology can be used to filter mixtures by the shape of molecules and has applications in improving DNA profiling techniques. Above: examples of shapes created with DNA and imaged with electron micrography. Further reading and source here. Image credit to Nature education.  -- source link

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