DNA nicks and nodes and nanotechnology

The properties that make DNA such an effective molecule for genetic material also make it a superb molecule for nanotechnology, when stable, stiff branched species are combined with cohesive interactions. Reciprocal crossovers between single strands of duplex or complex molecules lead to a panoply of motifs that can be used for DNA nanotechnology. A general derivation of these molecules is shown here, including components of devices and periodic or algorithmic arrays.