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Uncovering DNA's 'sweet' secret

Biochemist Martin Egli and his team solved the X-ray crystal structure of homo-DNA, an artificial analog of DNA with a six-carbon sugar backbone. The study shows that fully hydroxylated six-carbon sugars are too bulky to produce a stable base-pairing system capable of carrying genetic information as efficiently as DNA.

SourceVanderbilt University Medical Center·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateOct 3, 2006

Researchers create 'supersized' molecule of DNA

Scientists at Stanford University have created a 'supersized' DNA molecule, xDNA, consisting of larger base pairs that can increase stability and fluorescence. This new genetic system has the potential to revolutionize medical biopsies and potentially lead to the discovery of new life forms.

SourceStanford University·JournalScience·DateOct 30, 2003

For DNA, it's all about fitting in

Scientists at the University of Rochester have discovered that shape plays a crucial role in copying DNA, contradicting previous theories that relied on hydrogen bonds. This finding has significant implications for cancer diagnosis and potential applications in artificial DNA creation.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalNature·DateJun 16, 1999