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DNA twisted into boxes
A news article in Nature reports on a group that has constructed three dimensional boxes, including a lockable lid, from DNA. Using specifically designed oligonuclitides, the boxes self-assemble chemically from long strands of DNA in solution. According to the article, "It takes only an hour or two for billions of boxes to form by themselves."
The article include both "artists conceptions" and electron-microscope images of the actual objects.
Update 13 May 2009: The Nature article above has been put into restricted access. Here is a Science News report which is not restricted.
Discussions
10 years ago
Left, you mean?
Reply 10 years ago
Yes, left. Thanks.
10 years ago
out of interest, which one of the pictures is electron microscope?
Reply 10 years ago
I meant "left" (the fuzzy, blobbly one), rather than the nice neat "basket-weaving" artist's impressions. My thanks to W'burg for correcting my chirality error.
10 years ago
Of what value is this, what can it be used for??? It is very interesting but what is the point of it? Thanks!
Reply 10 years ago
If you read the article, you might find out. Answers lie within...
Reply 10 years ago
hehe... This was easier !!! :D
Reply 10 years ago
Laziness isn't an accepted excuse, most places. :\
Reply 10 years ago
Its not... But I have to make an account and even, I think pay so i can enter and read the whole article...
Reply 10 years ago
I assume you didn't read my reply to you, or follow the additional link added.
Reply 10 years ago
No, where is it? I can't see your reply.
Reply 10 years ago
On May 13, 2009. 3:01 PM, kelseymh(author) says:
Sorry about that. I see the same restriction myself. I've added a link to the Science News writeup which doesn't have any liimits.
I added the link to the main body of the topic, in the final sentence which begins "Update".
Reply 10 years ago
ok.... good for you! xD
Reply 10 years ago
Ah, used for things OTHER then just grow your own 'boxing' gloves LOL
Reply 10 years ago
xD
Reply 10 years ago
Hahaha.
Reply 10 years ago
Were you able to follow the link to the article? If not, please let me know (some of the stuff from Nature is free, some is subscription-only)/ If you were able to read the article, perhaps you could be more specific about what you didn't understand. The authors addressed your questions rather directly, I thought.
Reply 10 years ago
Well, the thing is that I have to log in to read the whole story....
Reply 10 years ago
Sorry about that. I see the same restriction myself. I've added a link to the Science News writeup which doesn't have any liimits.
Reply 10 years ago
...
Reply 10 years ago
I believe the phrase is "Thank you"...
Reply 10 years ago
That's weird. I didn't have to at first, but now I do. :'(
Reply 10 years ago
:0
Reply 10 years ago
. I'm guessing posting the URL here bumped it up on the search engines and it started getting popular enough that they thought ppl would register to see it. But I'm just a good ol' boy from S AR (US).
10 years ago
/me awaits "World's smallest rubiks cube" news articles :)
10 years ago
. Nano-K'nex!
10 years ago
Wow! That's fascinating - I hadn't realized you could manipulate the shape of DNA that way.