myotonic dystrophy messenger RNA acts like a kind of sponge

An example of simile (and metaphor) in popular science writing,

"The myotonic dystrophy messenger RNA does something unusual. It binds lots of protein molecules that are present in the cell. The bigger the expansion [of the myotonic dystrophy gene], the more protein molecules that get bound. The mutant myotonic dystrophy messenger RNA acts like a kind of sponge, mopping up more and more of these proteins … [that] are normally involved in regulating lots of other messenger RNA molecules."

Nessa Carey (2015) Junk DNA. A journey through the dark matter of the genome. London: Icon Books Ltd.

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Read about examples of science similes

Many examples of science similes are listed in 'Creative Comparisons: Making Science Familiar through Language. An illustrative catalogue of figurative comparisons and analogies for science concepts'. Free Download.