Learning on ScreenTwisting, Coiling , Knotting: Maths and Dna Replication
- Synopsis
- The proportions of a DNA molecule in a human cell are equivalent to a 2000-mile-long rope packed inside the Millennium Dome. When DNA replicates, it spins at an astonishing 10 turns per second. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that DNA can become highly twisted, super-coiled and even knotted. To understand this phenomenon, the molecular biologist must grapple with the mathematical concepts of twisting, writhing and knotting. Armed with this mathematical knowledge, researchers can even use an enzyme to tie a knot in the DNA molecule to discover more about its biochemistry.
In this highly-illustrated talk Michael Thompson experiments with strings and rubber bands to explore the geometrical rules which underlie the transmission of our genetic code. - Language
- English
- Country
- Great Britain
- Year of release
- 2010
- Year of production
- 2010
- Subjects
- Biology; Mathematics
- Keywords
- applied mathematics; DNA; genetic code; geometry; knots; molecular biology; coils
Online availability
- URI
- http://mediaplayer.group.cam.ac.uk/component/option,com_mediadb/task,view/idstr,CU-MichaelThompson-DNA/Itemid,26
- Price
- free
- Delivery
- Streamed/Download
Credits
- Contributor
- Michael Thompson
Distributor
Record Stats
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