The Path to the Double Helix


Book Description

Written by a noted historian of science, this in-depth account traces how Watson and Crick achieved one of science's most dramatic feats: their 1953 discovery of the molecular structure of DNA.




Nanosources and Manipulation of Atoms Under High Fields and Temperatures: Applications


Book Description

This volume contains the proceedings of the NATO-Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) "Manipulation of atoms under high fields and temperatures: Applications", sponsored by the NATO Scientific Affairs Division, Special Programme on Nanoscale Science. This ARW took place in Summer '92, in the pleasant surroundings of the Hotel des Thermes at Charbonnieres les Bains -Lyon, France. Gathering some fifty experts from different fields, the ARW provided an opportunity to review the basic principles and to highlight the progress made during the last few years on the nanosources and the interactions between atomic-scale probes and samples. The motivation is to use the novel properties attached to the atomic dimensions to develop nanoscale technologies. The perception of the atomic-scale world has greatly changed since the discovery and development, in the early 80's, of Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) by Binnig and Rohrer. Beyond the observation of individual atoms, which is now routine, the concept of playing with atoms has become commonplace. This has lead to the fashioning of tools at the atomic scale, to the deposition, the displacement and the creation of atomic structures and also to the knowledge of interactions and contacts between atoms. Nanotips ending with a single atom are sources of ultra-fine charged beams. They can be unique tools for high resolution observations, for micro fabrications by micro-machining and deposition at a scale not previously attainable, with a working distance less stringent than with STM devices.







DNA Replication


Book Description

The study of DNA advanced human knowledge in a way comparable to the major theories in physics, surpassed only by discoveries such as fire or the number zero. However, it also created conceptual shortcuts, beliefs and misunderstandings that obscure the natural phenomena, hindering its better understanding. The deep conviction that no human knowledge is perfect, but only perfectible, should function as a fair safeguard against scientific dogmatism and enable open discussion. With this aim, this book will offer to its readers 30 chapters on current trends in the field of DNA replication. As several contributions in this book show, the study of DNA will continue for a while to be a leading front of scientific activities.




The Ribosome


Book Description




Atomic-scale Imaging of Surfaces and Interfaces


Book Description

Materials tunneling microscopy for hydrogen-desorption-induced structural change of Si(111) surface; Steps on the (110) surface InP; Scanning tunneling microscopy on charge density waves in layered compounds; Design of ultra high vacuum scanning electron microscope combined with scanning tunneling microscope; Scanning tunneling microscopy perspective of structures on reduced SrTiO3(001) surfaces; Surface structure and electronic property of reduced SrTiO3(100) surface observed by STM/STS; Metastable structural surface excitations and concerted adatom motions: a STM study of atomic motions within a semiconductor surface; Mechanisms and energetics of surface atomic processes: an atom-probe field ion microscope study; Atomic arrangement of Al near the phase boundaries between square root 3X square root 3-Al and 7X7 structures on Si(111) surfaces; Growth and surface morphology of thin silicon films using an atomic force microscope; Solving interface structures by combined electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction; Quantitative hrem study of the atomic structure of the sum(310)/[001] symmetric tilt grain boundary in Nb; Hrtem observation of a sum =3 \{112\} bicrystal boundary in aluminum; Atomic structure of the (310) twin in niobium; theoretical predictions and comparison with experimental observation; Quantitative high-resolution electron microscopy of grain boundaries in gamma-Al2=3; Comparisons of observed and simulated atomic structures of Pd/NiO heterophase interfaces; Atomic structure of sum =5 (130) symmetrical tilt boundary in strontium titanate; Assessment of GaInAs/GaInAsP interdiffusion profiles obtained using stem-edx and hrem; Electron microscopy characterization of epitaxial growth of Ag deposited on MgO microcubes; Real-time viewinf of dynamic processes on CdTe surfaces at elevated temperature; AFM imaging of the crystalline-to-amorphous transition on the surface of ion-implanted mica; AFM imagings of ferritin molecules bound to LB films of poly-1-benzyl-L-histidine; Artifacts in atomic force microscopy of nanoporous and mesoporous fiducial samples; Al induced reconstructions on the Si(111) surfaces studied by scanning tunneling microscopy; Structure of the sum =3 (111) grain boundary in Cu-1.5%Sb; High resolution electron microscopy of sum =3 NiSi2 (111)/(115) Si and NiSi2(221)/(001)Si interfaces; Image simulations of Ge twin boundaries; Surface structure of oxide catalyst microcrystals: high resolution electron microscopy study; A microstructural study of reaction-bonded silicon carbide...




RNA Towards Medicine


Book Description

Developments over the past few years have revealed the remarkable versatility of RNA in any compartment of the cell, tasks that had been thought to be exclusively in the realm of proteins and even beyond. The chapters in this book written by leading investigators in the field provide insight into various promising avenues where RNA and nucleic acid derivatives including antisense RNAs, such as siRNA, miRNAs, amplification/selection (SELEX) generated aptamers as well as ribozymes are at the threshold of impacting medicine.




Structural Bioinformatics


Book Description

Structural Bioinformatics was the first major effort to show the application of the principles and basic knowledge of the larger field of bioinformatics to questions focusing on macromolecular structure, such as the prediction of protein structure and how proteins carry out cellular functions, and how the application of bioinformatics to these life science issues can improve healthcare by accelerating drug discovery and development. Designed primarily as a reference, the first edition nevertheless saw widespread use as a textbook in graduate and undergraduate university courses dealing with the theories and associated algorithms, resources, and tools used in the analysis, prediction, and theoretical underpinnings of DNA, RNA, and proteins. This new edition contains not only thorough updates of the advances in structural bioinformatics since publication of the first edition, but also features eleven new chapters dealing with frontier areas of high scientific impact, including: sampling and search techniques; use of mass spectrometry; genome functional annotation; and much more. Offering detailed coverage for practitioners while remaining accessible to the novice, Structural Bioinformatics, Second Edition is a valuable resource and an excellent textbook for a range of readers in the bioinformatics and advanced biology fields. Praise for the previous edition: "This book is a gold mine of fundamental and practical information in an area not previously well represented in book form." —Biochemistry and Molecular Education "... destined to become a classic reference work for workers at all levels in structural bioinformatics...recommended with great enthusiasm for educators, researchers, and graduate students." —BAMBED "...a useful and timely summary of a rapidly expanding field." —Nature Structural Biology "...a terrific job in this timely creation of a compilation of articles that appropriately addresses this issue." —Briefings in Bioinformatics




Molecular Modeling and Simulation


Book Description

Very broad overview of the field intended for an interdisciplinary audience; Lively discussion of current challenges written in a colloquial style; Author is a rising star in this discipline; Suitably accessible for beginners and suitably rigorous for experts; Features extensive four-color illustrations; Appendices featuring homework assignments and reading lists complement the material in the main text