Perhaps, almost any person is at least a little familiar with science to the question "what does DNA look like?" will answer "in the form of two spirals." And this statement until the last moment was a fact, an axiom that does not require proof. Recently, however, a team of researchers from Australia discovered a completely new form of DNA structure. And, performing all the same functions, it is not at all similar to the usual two-sided molecule.
Behind the discovery is a group of researchers from the Garvan Institute for Medical Research, led by Professor Daniel Christos. The authors themselves describe the new shape as a "twisted knot", which confirms the long-standing hypothesis that our genetic code has a much more complex structure than symmetrically located spirals.
Schematic representation of i-motif.
The DNA fragment is called i-motif. In laboratory conditions, it was observed earlier, back in the 1990s, but was first found in the cells of some animals in the middle of this year. Continuing their research, a team of scientists recently discovered that i-motif is also present in functioning human cells.
Vladimir Kuznetsov
