Nucleic acid structure determination

Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) have a special shape. Scientists use powerful tools to figure out what that shape is. To do this, they use something called molecular biology. Molecular biology involves using machines and special techniques like X-rays to take a very close look at the structure of molecules. They can then figure out how the nucleic acids are shaped and how they interact with other things in our bodies. This helps scientists to understand how our bodies work and how diseases might be treated.