Almost everyone has heard of Watson and Crick, the two gentlemen who discovered the double helix structure of DNA that we all know and love. Following their discovery came revolutionary scientific developments in fields ranging from medicine to food production. However, scientists have confirmed that the double helix is not the only structure DNA can assume. A new twisted knot form was recently discovered in human cells.

The new structure is called the intercalated motif, or the i-motif. In standard double helix DNA base pairs only bind to their corresponding partner; adenine with thymine and guanine with cytosine. However, in the daring i-motif structure cytosine binds with cytosine, giving the DNA its wacky twisted knot structure.

This structure had been found in cells in the lab but had not been found in living cells until recently. How i-motif was found in human cells was through antibody fragments. Antibodies normally function by tagging suspicious cells in the body for the immune system to destroy. They helped in identifying i-motif by tagging the DNA. The fragments were dyed fluorescent green so that when they bound to the i-motif DNA it was visible.

With this new structure of DNA comes a new function for DNA. The appearance and disappearance of the green antibody fragments showed scientists that the i-motif was being created, used and dissolved, and created again. This means that i-motif is being used only when the body needs it. This and the fact that i-motif is located near cells controlling gene activation has led to the conclusion that i-motif must function in the reading and activity of genes. So basically this new DNA structure is helping to control how the standard DNA that makes up our genes is being read. DNA is controlling DNA.

This may not seem important to someone disinterested in science, but it definitely matters. With the discovery of the double helix structure, the world was changed for the better. Without it, multiple medical techniques like gene therapy would not be saving lives today. This new i-motif structure could have a similar impact on medical advances. It is already evident that it plays a huge role in gene expression. Perhaps it could one day be used to develop treatments for disorders resulting in incorrect gene expression. This and the new structures that may be found in the future will help to change the world, as Watson and Crick's double helix once did.