DNA IN MOLECULAR NODES

Setup

  • Blender version 4.0
  • Blender empty file
  • Molecular Nodes installed

Workflow

  1. As usual we delete the cube with X
  2. Go to top orthographic view Numpad 7
  3. SHIFT-A and add bezier curve
  4. Got to EDIT mode (TAB)
  5. Add some points to the curve using extrude (E)
  6. Go back to Object Mode
  7. With the bezier curve selected go to Geometry Node view. Geometry Nodes
  8. Press New on geometry nodes interface
  9. SHIFT-A and add DNA Double Helix
  10. To see the helix curve you can connect the Helix Curve to the geometry output.
  11. To see the real bases I need to define a new block: SHIFT-A and add DNA Bases. Notice that a new collection is now present in the Outlier: prim_DNA

  12. In order to render the bases a sphere we can add to geometry nodes structure a block named DNA Style Spheres Eevee

    DNA in molecular nodes

  13. Now edit the bezier curve and reduce the number of points
  14. We now create a simple animation to unwind the DNA using geometry nodes parameters: in geometry nodes at frame 1 add a Keyframe for unwind (1.0) and zip (1.0) parameters
  15. Move to frame 100 and change unwind to 0.0 and zip to 2.5
  16. Look at this totally non scientific unwind animation of DNA!

Blender file: DNA_MolecularNodes.blend