Abstract: When deoxyribonucleic (DNA), held at a fixed tension, is subjected to torsional deformations, it responds by forming plectonemic supercoils accompanied by a reduction in its endtoend extension. This transition from the ...

Abstract: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a long flexible polyelectrolyte that is housed in the aqueous environment within the cell of an organism. When a length of torsionally relaxed (untwisted) DNA is held in tension, such as is ...