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  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Mini-DNA strands knock macroscale blocks into shape

Gel blocks up to 2 millimetres long are the biggest structures yet to be brought to order by microscopic lengths of DNA.
Left, separated red and green hydrogel blocks. Right, self-assembled red and green hydrogel blocks.

Short DNA strands decorating the surfaces of gel blocks guide the cubes into a flower-like formation. Credit: OIST

DNA’s organizing powers go big: strands of the genetic material can guide gel cubes large enough to be seen with the naked eye to assemble into groups1.

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Nature 602, 364 (2022)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-00358-2

References

  1. Sontakke, V. A. & Yokobayashi, Y. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 144, 2149–2155 (2022).

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