The Biggest DNA Origami Structures Yet

Three new strategies for using DNA to generate large, self-assembling shapes create everything from a nanoscale teddy bear to a nanoscale Mona Lisa.

abby olena
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Conceptual animation of a fractal assembly process for creating the Mona Lisa out of DNA.CALTECHDNA is a powerful building medium because its sequences can be designed to allow for precise control of self-assembly. In one fabrication technique—known as DNA origami—a single, long scaffold strand combines with complementary staple strands to form a nanostructure.

Researchers have spent the last decade working to make DNA origami bigger and cheaper. Now, four studies published today (December 6) in Nature represent a substantial step forward. Three research teams have used various strategies to assemble DNA structures larger than any that have been built before, and have developed a method that allows for mass production of DNA origami at a much lower cost.

Rendered atomic force microscopy images of the Mona Lisa, a bacterium, and a rooster self-assembled from DNA origami tilesGRIGORY TIKHOMIROV, PHILIP PETERSEN, AND LULU QIAN / CALTECH

Lulu Qian, a bioengineer at Caltech, and colleagues created a technique inspired by fractals, a mathematical principle in which the same rules repeat at different scales, as in the branches of blood vessels or the ...

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Meet the Author

  • abby olena

    Abby Olena, PhD

    As a freelancer for The Scientist, Abby reports on new developments in life science for the website.
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