Unraveling the DNA stretching mystery
Thursday, January 20, 2011 - 13:30
in Biology & Nature
(PhysOrg.com) -- Using a new experimental test structure, biophysicists at JILA have unraveled part of a 15-year mystery in the mechanics of DNA -- just how the molecule manages to suddenly extend to almost twice its normal length. The new test structure should support research on DNA elasticity as a standard for tiny forces and help refine studies of how drugs and other substances bind to DNA.