Each of us has enough DNA to reach from here to the sun and back ... and not quite the uniform structure depicted in instructive drawings such as Figure 1 (Bednar et al., 1998).

ixteen strands of DNA, stacked four-by-four, form the beam-shaped chassis of the DNA motor (in gray). Bits of DNA (in green) protrude from the chassis like little feet. The motor is fueled by RNA ...