Electron microscope shows DNA’s helical structure
NOV 28, 2012
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.026566
New Scientist : The original discovery of DNA’s double helix relied on mathematically deducing what structure had created the diffraction pattern revealed by x-ray crystallography. Now scientists have directly imaged the structure using an electron microscope. A team led by Enzo di Fabrizio of the University of Genoa in Italy stretched “cords” of DNA molecules between nanoscopic silicon pillars and took high-resolution images with electron beams. Because the electron beams are too energetic to interact with a single DNA molecule without breaking it, the cords were composed of multiple strands of DNA wrapped around each other. The team hopes to soon be able to use lower-energy electrons to image individual DNA molecules. The new imaging technique may allow researchers to observe how DNA and other molecules interact.
© 2012 American Institute of Physics
