DNA Construction Set

thingiverse

Creating a DNA model with my daughter using wire and beads, I was struck by its potential as a standardized interlocking construction set. This set emphasizes biological accuracy and educational value, featuring approximately 65 million times magnified scale, 10.5 base pairs per twist, reversible spine bonds, interlocking hydrogen bonds, major and minor grooves, and carbon and phosphate ring representations. Each base pair consists of two backbone pieces and two matching bases, with an ideal print count of eight bases and 32 backbone segments; for visual clarity, print each base in a distinct color. I used white ABS-printed parts dyed with Rit dye (soaked for about 30 minutes in a solution of three parts hot water and one part acetone) to achieve this. Due to the model's structural tension, backbone pieces must be glued to each base for stability, while hydrogen bonds can be secured using cellophane tape. The tower may need additional support, which can be achieved by inserting short lengths of acrylic doweling.