What term describes the folding of DNA at the nanoscale level to create complex structures?

The term that describes the folding of DNA at the nanoscale level to create complex structures is DNA origami. This technique involves designing a specific sequence of nucleotides in such a way that the DNA molecules can fold into predetermined shapes and structures through hybridization. By carefully designing the strands, researchers can create intricate forms, including shapes like triangles, rectangles, and even more complex structures, all at the nanoscale level.

DNA origami showcases the potential of DNA as a versatile material in nanotechnology, allowing for the creation of nano-sized devices, structures for drug delivery, or scaffolds for molecular assembly. This process demonstrates the principles of molecular self-assembly and has numerous applications in fields such as biotechnology, medicine, and materials science.

The other choices refer to different biological processes. Gene splicing involves manipulating DNA sequences to include or exclude certain genes, protein folding pertains to the three-dimensional arrangement of proteins which does not directly involve DNA itself, and nucleic acid synthesis relates to the creation of DNA or RNA sequences but does not specifically describe the structural folding aspect seen in DNA origami.