Morphology change of calcium carbonate in the presence of polynucleotides

Two-dimensional DNA lattices are grown under conditions that also are suitable for the magnesium-free growth of three-dimensional calcium carbonate crystals. These lattices are used to template morphology changes in calcium carbonate. The effects of DNA lattices, subassemblies, duplexes, single strands, dinucleotides, and mononucleotides on calcium carbonate morphology are studied. A polycrystalline morphology of calcite is found to predominate when a critical concentration of any polynucleotide is reached in the templating solution.