Origami technique for the design of DNA forms

Refael Ismail

The art of origami is known as paper folding without the use of cutting or cutting tools for binary and 3D shapes. The Japanese first developed this art in the 17th century.

Scientists used the mechanism in their research. A team from Arizona State University in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology created a way to automate the design and construction of DNA forms known as origami DNA.

Origami DNA
DNA is the genetic material of all living organisms. It is a double helical spiral made up of two strips linked by nitrogen bases and four DNA numbers.

To apply the origami technique to DNA, a long strip of DNA is taken from specific parts and small parts of another DNA strip are used to act as a "clamp". Each layer is joined by the corresponding layer by linking the nitrogen bases in the long strip with The bases on the small strips, the smaller the strips the greater the cohesion until the desired design form is obtained and we get objects designed with origami technology at the level of nanoseconds (part of the billionth of a meter).

This technology has provided opportunities to explore and build many nanomaterials of DNA. These compounds are used in various fields such as computers, electronics and nanoscale circuits, as well as research in improving the effectiveness of chemotherapy for cancer patients while reducing side effects.

Design automatically
This technique requires a lot of resources and manpower, as well as a high level of design skills only in the first stage, prompting researchers from the University of Arizona and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to devise a mechanism to automate the process of designing and building DNA forms and models according to the origami method published in the journal Science Advance. "

The director of the Molecular Design Center at the University of Arizona, Hao Yan, said in a statement obtained by the island that in the process of building origami DNA to draw any shape by hand, and then the computer what is required to build this form.

The new mechanism allows the construction of two-dimensional models of DNA in the origami method in a simplified manner, where the desired shape is drawn by hand and added to a specialized program. The algorithm created specifically for this mechanism automates the construction process by locating the folds sequentially and using short strips to maintain Form, and then the process of heating, cooling and self-assembly of DNA parts to reach the form of final design, which can be seen using a specialized microscope known as the atomic energy microscope.

This mechanism was tested to construct 15 2D forms automatically, and the researchers called the Pyrdex the innovative algorithm and was made available to the research community.

The mechanism provides time and effort to build DNA designs, and allows non-specialists to build their designs automatically, which will eventually lead to the development of this area, and the development of many forms and vehicles for use in multiple areas.