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DNA Molecular Beacon Biosensor

Interactive 2D FRET biosensor simulator: a schematic hairpin DNA molecular beacon opens and closes according to a real coupled thermodynamic equilibrium (stem melting + target hybridization), with live fluorescence readout and a genuine sigmoidal dose-response curve emerging from the actual free-energy calculation.

Nanotechnology & MEMS2DAdvanced60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version

Details

CategoryNanotechnology & MEMS

RenderingCanvas 2D

DifficultyAdvanced

Target FPS60

ControlsSliders set target DNA concentration, hybridization temperature and ionic strength (NaCl); a Reset assay button reseeds the schematic probe population and restarts the timer; Probe view/Dose-response buttons toggle between the animated hairpin scatter (each probe's open/closed draw sampled from the live equilibrium fraction) and a live fluorescence-vs-log[target] dose-response curve traced from the same thermodynamic model.

biosensorDNAFRETfluorescencediagnosticsnanotechnology

📖 Read the articleThe maths behind DNA Molecular Beacon Biosensor

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A molecular beacon is a hairpin DNA probe that stays dark until it finds its target. This 2D simulator solves the same real biochemistry as a closed-form thermodynamic equilibrium: a coupled stem-melting/target-hybridization free energy sets the exact fraction of the probe population sitting open and fluorescent at any instant, driving a schematic hairpin's open/close animation, a live fluorescence readout, and a genuine sigmoidal dose-response curve traced directly from the same free-energy calculation as you sweep target concentration. Tune target concentration, hybridization temperature and ionic strength to see how real diagnostic assays trade off sensitivity and background.

⚙ Under the hood

Adjust temperature and ion strength to see DNA molecular beacons change from closed (quenched) to open (fluorescent) states, capturing target DNA.

biosensorDNAFRETfluorescencediagnosticsnanotechnology

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