The first (REAL) DNA photograph

30/11/2012 – The discovery comes from a team of scientists from the University of Genoa

The science of recent decades has taught us that DNA, the building blocks of life, is a very long double helix structure, where the four nitrogenous bases bind together forming the basis of any living organism. Science books, then, have always represented this propeller as an explosion of colors: red, yellow, blue and green. A twisted rainbow that carries within itself the genetic code of every being. But... What if it were not so? Of course, we are aware that the multicolored representation of DNA is an artistic license to better explain the concept but, at the end of the day, no layman has ever seen what DNA is made "for real".

This is shown to us by The Atlantic, which has published two images resulting from a new technique for photographing DNA developed by the team of Enzo Di Fabrizio, director of the Department of Nanostructures at the University of Genoa. Until now, every image captured of DNA was rendered but, today, we can truly see deoxyribonucleic acid as it is made. Of course, there are no colors of biology books and the double helix is not visible but, in a way, it is a much more realistic photo than the images seen so far: it is not the result of graphic processing, it is a photo taken by a microscope.

TINY CRATERS – The images have been published in the scientific journal Nanoletters accompanied by an explanation of the method used to obtain them: it is an experimental technology based on the removal of a DNA strand that is placed in a dehydrating solution. Next, the dehydrated DNA is placed on a water-repellent substance that allowed scientists to dig tiny holes in the strand, from which they could "spy" on the true face of the DNA. And yes, it is in the shape of a double helix.

This new technique, New Scientist pointed out, will help researchers better understand how proteins, RNA and other biomolecules interact with DNA. But even for non-experts, this new all-Italian discovery has a certain charm: it is one more step towards understanding the origin of life.