Become a Friend Donate
PETBioNewsGlossaryDouble helix

BioNews

Double helix

The 3D structure of DNA, the chemical that encodes genetic information. Two strands of DNA stick together into a 'twisted zip' structure, in which pairs of chemical bases (A-T and C-G) make up the teeth of the zip.

77 articles
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
24 July 2020 • 2 minutes read

Human quadruple-stranded DNA discovered

by Daniel Jacobson

Quadruple-stranded DNA has been observed in healthy human cells for the first time, shedding light on its possible role in cancer...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
25 October 2019 • 2 minutes read

New 'prime' genome editing offers promise

by Jennifer Frosch

An improved genome editing method could potentially correct 89 percent of known genetic defects causing disease, US scientists say.

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
27 April 2018 • 2 minutes read

New DNA structure found in human cells

by Dr Rachel Huddart

A 'twisted knot' of DNA, known as an i-motif, has been found in living cells for the first time, raising questions about its function...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
Reviews
27 February 2018 • 3 minutes read

Board Game Review: The Genomics Game

by Jean Bvumbe

It's not often you get to play board games at work. Recently at Guy's Hospital in London, the research nurse team were delighted to try out The Genomics Game, released by the NHS's Genomics Education Programme...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
4 January 2018 • 2 minutes read

New CRISPR technique reverses diabetes and kidney failure in mice without cutting DNA

by Isobel Steer

Scientists in California have used a modified form of the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing approach to epigenetically treat diabetes, kidney disease and muscular dystrophy in mice...

Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the output from a DNA sequencing machine.
Image by Peter Artymiuk via the Wellcome Collection. Depicts the shadow of a DNA double helix, on a background that shows the fluorescent banding of the sequencing output from an automated DNA sequencing machine.
News
27 November 2017 • 3 minutes read

Real-time film shows CRISPR in action

by Jonathan Bestwick

For the first time ever, researchers have been able to film, in real-time, the activity of the CRISPR technique on a strand of DNA...