Kyoto University researchers have developed the world’s smallest fishing reel to wind up DNA strands without damaging them.

The microdevice lets geneticists more precisely locate specific genes and identify genetic disorders.

The researhers developed minuscule hooks and bobbins that mimic the way a fishing reel winds line onto a spool as a safer way to manipulate DNA. These are fabricated from a polymer called SU-8 photoresist that doesn’t bind to and damage the DNA.

To manipulate the microdevices, a tightly focused laser beam was used as a pair of optical tweezers.