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Self-Assembling DNA Pyramids

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the new-and-improved-building-blocks dept.

FleaPlus writes "Physicists in England and the Netherlands have unveiled a technique for constructing rigid DNA pyramids. With the technique, trillions of d4's can rapidly self-assemble from a solution of single-stranded DNA. The scientists also showed that single DNA strands called linkers could be used to attach the tetrahedra to each other, acting as a possible building block for 3D nanofabrication."

1 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. Triangles by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This is awesome, I accidentally produced something that I suspect is very similar to this no more than 8 months ago using DNA to self-assemble gold nanoparticles. The pictures are gorgeous (but inconclusive, unfortunately). http://web.mit.edu/neltnerb/www/bn-triangles-1.jpg http://web.mit.edu/neltnerb/www/bn-triangles-2.jpg Sorry, I have no particular desire to register an account here for my very rare posts. And Kuna, don't laugh. I promise, I'm not a total dork. But DNA self assembly is still cool.