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DNA Strand Folding (2D)

A single-stranded DNA model folds itself in front of you: complementary bases (A–T, G–C) nucleate real Watson-Crick hydrogen-bond pairs when close enough, while temperature, GC content and strand length control how readily it hybridizes or melts back open.

Molecular Biology2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version

This 2D companion trades the 3D version's static rotating helix render for an actual folding process: a single strand of randomly generated bases starts loose, and complementary A–T and G–C pairs pull together into hydrogen bonds — weighted so G–C (3 H-bonds) locks tighter than A–T (2 H-bonds) — while thermal noise scaled to the temperature slider constantly threatens to pull them back apart, the same competition that sets a real strand's melting temperature.

⚙ Under the hood

Coarse-grained bead-spring backbone with steric repulsion; complementary unpaired bases within range nucleate a Watson-Crick bond scaled by G-C vs A-T strength; a temperature-scaled random force (Langevin-style thermal noise) drives folding at low temperature and melting at high temperature.

dna foldingbase pairingwatson-crickhybridizationmelting temperaturecoarse-grained model

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install