DNA used as building blocks | 12 Mar 08, 20:33

Chengde Mao / Purdue DNA strands can be programmed to create the scaffolding for complex 3-D structures, as shown in this artwork.Click on the image for a larger version. The DNA double-helix molecule serves not only as an excellent construction manual for life as we know it, but also as a pretty good construction material in its own right. Scientists can bend the twisty stuff into two-dimensional shapes, including a "happy face" design - but three-dimensional shapes are much trickier. In this week's issue of the journal Nature, researchers describe how sticky bits of DNA can put themselves together like Lego blocks to build up hollow geometrical shapes - ranging from pyramids to what you could call the world's smallest soccer balls. These DNA structures aren't just for kicking around: In the future, they could be used to deliver drugs, build nano-machines ... or hold prize molecular catches....(read more)

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