A) DNA polymerase binds to a single-stranded DNA template (blue) and synthesizes a complementary strand of DNA (red). B) When DNA polymerase randomly incorporates a fluorescently labeled ddNTP ...

But this magnifier doesn't enlarge the view of DNA bases. Rather, it makes billions of identical copies of a small sequence of DNA -- enough copies to allow a machine to detect marked bases within ...

It functions like a six-piston molecular engine -- each piston "fires" in sequence, driving the machine forward along the DNA. Crucially, instead of pushing the strands apart directly, it releases ...

Once a matching sequence is found, Pol-theta holds the broken DNA strands together so that they can be stitched together -- without needing extra energy. Most enzymes require an energy boost to ...