Double Helix DNA

Swiss researcher Johann Friedrich Miescher made the initial discovery of DNA in 1869, but it wasn’t until 1953 that the double helix model we think of today was first proposed by James Watson and Francis Crick. This discovery was a huge milestone in the field of science, shaping the future of molecular biology.

This model demonstrates the regular structure of DNA as defined by Watson and Crick. Everything is constant: the orientation, the width between nucleotides, and the ten nucleotides per helical turn.

Adenine (black) always appears opposite thymine (white). They are held together by two hydrogen bonds displayed in yellow.

Guanine (gray) always appears opposite cytosine (brown). They are held together by three yellow hydrogen bonds.

This model can easily be brightened using different colors to represent each of the four bases. With only 256 pieces and a size of 37.5 x 12.1 x 8.3 cm (14.5 x 4.8 x 3.3 in), this design is practical for everyday STEM and Lego building fun.