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Twisting, Coiling, Knotting: Maths And Dna Replication
with Michael Thompson
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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 we will experiment with strings and rubber bands (bring your own!) to explore the geometrical rules which underlie the transmission our genetic code.
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From the same publisher: Millennium Mathematics Project,
the same type: lecture,
the same subject: M-KS4,
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maths physics .
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