Playing with DNA
2006/05/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
The truth is that it looks like a game. DNA is a technique of adaptation to the letter: With a simple DNA chain you get the desired two-dimensional image. Paul Rothemund, from the California Institute of Technology, has presented Smiley (smiley face), a snowflake, the map of America etc., all made with DNA and a hundred nanometers in size.
This technique has been called DNA origamy with the Japanese name of papiroflexia. Images are made by bending the DNA chain. Short chains with a staple function are used to prevent the release of the DNA chain.
Precisely these staples are the key to this technique. The first image is designed and the computer determines the number of staples and their chemical structure to complete the image.
