The DNA Double Helix

The DNA Double Helix a mathematical approach to the physical structure Abhranil Das 08MS34 IISER Kolkata (Freshman 2009)

The Double Helix is Skewed

The strands of the DNA double helix are not diametrically opposite.
So, the distance between them at any cross-section is not equal to, but less than the diameter of the helices.

The Helices in Equations
The parametric coordinates of the helices, with
time as a parameter, are:

( β > α )

A Turn of the Helix
For each helix, θ increases by 2 π with each turn.
The pitch is given by:

Finding the Grooves
For a given θ , in the first helix,
Similarly, for the second helix,

Finding the Grooves
For minor groove, we need the difference in z between the first θ (n=1) of the two.

Finding the Grooves
For major groove, we need the difference in z between the first θ (n=1) of strand 1, and second θ (n=2) of strand 2.

Sum of the Grooves
Minor Groove + Major Groove =
= pitch, as derived before.

Phase Difference Between the Strands

Using Our Result

Thank You

The DNA Double Helix

by Abhranil Das on Mar 17, 2010

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

1 Embed 1

Statistics

The DNA Double Helix Presentation Transcript