New insights into DNA phase separation

A new study by Professor Hajin Kim in the School of Life Sciences at UNIST presents the notion of DNA Phase Separation, which suggests that the DNA within the nucleus may trigger phase separation, like oil in water. Unlike existing biological methods, Professor Kim explains how DNA works through a basic principle of physics: “Each human cell contains approximately two meters of DNA, that are too small to be visible to the unaided eye. Amazingly, all of that DNA is tightly packaged into a tiny little nucleus. There, we were able to observe the most basic separation principle of oil and water phases.”