Crystallography

The Battle of the Minds Wrought with regimented formulas and unfeeling calculations, the idea of science as an unyielding regiment circulates as popular belief. To the majority of the population the process of creating a hypothesis, preforming an experiment, and formulating a conclusion repeats indefinitely until someone reaches a breakthrough. However, this seemingly unending cycle fails to encompass the inconstancy of the scientific process. The scientific findings surrounding the discovery…

In the spring of 1953 James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the true structure of deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) utilizing theoretical chemistry and borrowed X-ray crystallography images. They postulated that the structure of DNA contained two helical chains that run in opposite directions of one another. They also stated, in contrast to Linus Pauling’s structure, that due to the repulsive forces between the negatively charged phosphate groups the nitrogenous bases would be located on the…

The Honors Program has been a journey over the past year as I have been becoming increasingly involved in my project, academic community, and the honors program at large. The role of a scientist in the world has grown progressively clearer for me. The experiences leading to this evolution of definition have been my interactions with peers within and outside of my field, role models in science, and pure experimental experience. The most impactful interactions with peers have always corresponded…

Figure 5. Rosiglitazone (highlighted in green) forms three salt bridges with neighboring atoms at the hydrophilic end of the LBD. Rosiglitazone binding to PPARγ causes a conformational change within the complex that causes the dissociation of the endogenous ligand and the recruitment of a nuclear receptor coactivator 2, NCoA-2. This similarly occurs in the other half of the complex: RXRα Receptor A type II nuclear receptor as well, RXR-α heterodimerizes with PPARγ. The ligand that…

Through the course of history society has been shaped by scientific discoveries that have benefitted mankind by providing a better understanding of the world and have advanced technology. One such scientist was Joseph John Thomson. Joseph John Thomson had a successful life, made important scientific discoveries, and impacted the world through his discoveries. Sir Joseph John Thomson was born on December 18, 1856 in Cheetham, a part of Manchester, England to Emma Swindells and Joseph James…

All things alive are made of cells. We humans have way too many to count. All the cells cluster and act together in the way so that we can function normally. Thanks to Agre and MacKinnon we now have more knowledge over molecular machines such ass channels, gates, and valves. The fact that water could go through the cell wall has always been a known thing, however, how the pores looked under function had been unknown. That is, until 1990 when Agre became the first to discover one. Chemical…

active in finding safe heaven in England. She is determined to do something with her life, graduates a year early and is offered a scholarship to study physics and chemistry at Cambridge. When she arrives at Cambridge she is introduced to x-ray crystallography. In 1939, Britain is preparing for the German invasion, by this time she graduates and she is determined to help in the war effort. She contributes to improving the gas mask which helps England in the war. When the war is over, Rosalind is…

understood without such information. For eighteen months, they pursued the knowledge with a single-minded focus, immersing themselves in all fields of science concerned, including genetics, chemistry, physical chemistry, biochemistry, and X-ray crystallography. They took especial interest in earlier genetic study. Early genetic research included that of Biochemist Erwin Chargaff, who had composed Chargaff’s rules. His rules stated that among DNA’s four bases adenine (A) and thymine (T) always…

Today I chose this experiment because I really wanted to try something new like Crystals. I tought Crystals would be interesting and fun because I would see the process while Crystals Form. My experiment will Impact the world around me because It will show people a new way of how crystals will be formed. This will also help the world around me because It will let the People figure out the real cost of Crystals and how much could they earn growing them. Scientists or Geologists could figure out…

Influential People who contributed to Genetics: James Watson: James Dewey Watson is a Nobel Prize-winning biophysicist and researcher, who is credited with co-discovering the the double-helix structure of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in 1953 with Francis Crick. Crick and Watson’s first efforts towards learning the structure of the DNA came up with many attempts, but it eventually concluded in the spring of 1953. Their research portrayed the DNA model pulling forth the double-helical…