A two-legged molecular machine that can walk unaided along a single strand of DNA could one day shift cargo around nanofactories. That's the promise of a walking molecular nanobot made by researchers at the University of Oxford.rnMolecular engines that walk along strands of DNA are nothing new, but none has featured as many successful features as the Oxfordrnteam's device. Unlike earlier attempts, their nanobot doesn't wander aimlessly back and forth, fall off its track or destroy its track as it walks. The team have also devised an ingenious way of powering the nanobot that allows it to move freely.rnThe walker consists of two connected feet, each made of a short sequence of DNA bases that attach to a complementary sequence on the DNA track. However, the sequence of bases on the track is designed so that the feet have to compete for a foothold. That means that as one foot steps down, the other is forced to lift off.rnThe power for this process is supplied by molecules floating nearby, which react together to release energy as long as a specific catalyst is there.
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