JCE Online Journal of Chemical Education
 | Subscriptions  | Software Orders  | Support  | Contributors  | Advertisers  | 



  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1999  > March  >
In the Classroom
Revealing the Backbone Structure of B-DNA from Laser Optical Simulations of Its X-ray Diffraction Diagram
A. A. Lucas, Ph. Lambin, R. Mairesse, and M. Mathot
Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix, Département de Physique, Faculté des Sciences, rue de Bruxelles, 61, B5000 Namur, Belgium

Cover
March 1999
Vol. 76 No. 3
p. 378

Abstract
A visible laser and a set of nine specially designed diffraction gratings held on a single slide have been used to build up progressively a classroom optical simulation of the diffraction of X-rays by a B-DNA fiber. The nine optical transforms allow understanding, without recourse to helical diffraction theory, of how the prominent features of the observed diffraction pattern arise from each of the structural parameters of the DNA backbone.
More Information
*  Citation
Lucas, A. A.; Lambin, Ph.; Mairesse, R.; Mathot, M. J. Chem. Educ. 1999 76 378.
*  Keywords
Demonstrations; Nucleic Acids / DNA / RNA; Teaching / Learning Aids; Crystallography / Crystal Growth; X-ray Crystallography
*  History
Created:
Last Updated:
June 15, 1999
June 22, 2005
  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1999 > March > Page 378



Chemistry Teacher Connection

The "Chemistry Teacher Connection" (CTC) is especially for high school chemistry teachers. For only $40/year, it offers an online-only subscription to CLIC along with membership in the Division of Chemical Education, normally $65/year. CTC subscribers receive access to all articles and supplements from 1996 through the current issue.


C&EN CLICs

Through special arrangement with the ACS, JCE High School CLIC is now able to provide subscribers with online access to Chemical & Engineering News articles that have been selected specifically for secondary science instructors and their students. 


JCE Collections Available
Occasionally, collections of JCE back issues become available for donation to individual teachers, schools, or libraries. JCE matches collections with interested recipients. Recipients pay shipping costs or pick up the collection.

Contributions Welcome
JCE welcomes your submission

Subscriptions

Fishing for New Ideas
Always in the
process of
improving, CLIC
welcomes ideas and comments.

Email Us

NSF logoDivCHEDACS ACS PubsFor journals in other fields of chemistry visit ACS Publications.