Replies to HW8
Alison
1. What did Watson and Crick discover and why is it important?
In 1953 Watson and Crick discovered the double helix formation of DNA using
crystallography. It was a huge discovery in the world of science as it gave
scientists a greater understanding of its molecular structure.
2. What is x-ray crystallography and how does it work?
X-ray crystallography is used to determine the structure of any molecule at
atomic resolution. First, crystals of the molecules need to be grown.
X-rays are used to obtain a defraction image, which contains information
about the structure of the crystals of the molecule. The next step is to
calculate an electron density map from the image. Then the map is
interpreted in terms of where the atoms and amino acids are located. This
last step is a crude structure of the molecule, which scientists can refine
for future use. The defining trait of a crystal is its three-dimensional
periodic array of molecules. X-rays are used because it is a type of
electromagnetic radiation that has a wavelength close to the distance of
atoms in a molecule. This wavelength is needed because it is close to the
distance between two bonded atoms in a molecule, which is what is being
measured.
3. What is the significance of the "Lorenz butterfly"?
Edward Lorenz, a meteorologist, came up with a computer model of chaos, which
also showed a pattern of regularity. The "Lorenz Butterfly," a computerized
mathematical equation, is a computer image of chaos which resemble the figure
of a butterfly.
4. What is the significance of studying the behavior of the "forced damped
pendulum"?
James A. Yorke, a mathematician, plotted out points of a fictional pendulum
in 1986. He produced a computer model image of "phase space." This model is
a two toned map that plots out the x and y coordinates for all of the
possible fates of every possible initial condition of this pendulum. This
map is a depiction of a chaos theory basins of behavior.
Denny
What did Watson and Crick discover and why was this important?
-They discovered the double helix structure of the human DNA by using X-ray crystallography. This reveal the composition of the DNA molecule. It also reveal the very essence of life form and what it looks like, and that gave them a better understanding of life itself.
What is X-ray crystallography and how does it work?
- X-ray crystallography construct a 3D structure of a molecule by method of crystal growing and X-rays. Crystallographer need to see a regular pattern in the molecule they are studying. In order to do this, they need to freeze the molecule into crystal so that the molecule will become arranged in a repetitive pattern. This crystallization process may take years. In order to see the molecule in the crystal, crystallographer have to illuminate it with X-rays. The data from the X-rays picture is then constructed into a "map".
What is the significance of the "Lorenz butterfly"?
- The "Lorenz butterfly" is a looping confusion that occur in weather model. It was the first to detect pattern of mathematical regularity to Chaos.
What is the significance of studying the behavior of the "force damped pendulum"?
- From studying the pendulum, Yorke discovered "basins of attraction" (two or four sinks of behavior). He also discovered the characteristic of Chaos in the pendulum. He could not reach definitive and predictive conclusions about the pendulum's behavior. Thus the paradox of Chaos: Predictably random and randomly predictable.
Amy
1. Watson and Crick used Crystallographic data in 1953 to figure out that DNA
assumes the structure of a double helix. This was/is important because it is
the best way to understand molecules by using the x-ray crystallography.
2. X-ray crystallography is the study of proteins and nucleic acids, like
DNA. This works by growing crystals that can be photographed by x-rays.
People mix a solution containing DNA, Eco RI, and buffers, which promote
evaporation, and then hundreds of the trays are put into a refrigerator and
checked on twice a week. Then they are suctioned with its "mother liquor"
into a capillary tube, and then its picture is taken (x-ray).
3.Th significance of the Lorenz Butterfly is that Edward Lorenz mapped
differential equations to model the weather, and because they didn't permit a
certain prediction, the uncertainty was mirrored in the map of a butterfly.
It was a picture of Poincare's intuition, and Yorke realized it conveyed
something new and profound about Physics.
4.The significance of studying the behavior of the "forced damped pendulum"
is to see that when the pendulum teetered between two physical fates, it
actually rested on the border of all possible fates; thus revealing the chaos
theory, which allowed one to predict the future.
Jeff
Watson and Crick discovered the structure of DNA. This was imprtant because by knowing its structure we can have a better idea of what its function is. More importanty however, is it showed that the different nucleotides fit together, which led to the understanding of the gentic code, one of the most interesting and important scientific discoveries of all times.
X-ray crystallography is a method of finding the structure a given molecule. By suspending a molecule in a substance to make a crystal, the molecules will form together according to their stucture. When the crystal is finished you can x-ray it, and it will reflect off of the different surfaces. by looking at where the most reflection spots are you can tell where the faces of the molecule are, and can begin to visualize the molecule.
The Lorenz butterfly shows that a certain set of pionts along a completely random curve can line up in a definate pattern. This shows that even with different initial settings as well as different forces, the results can be orderly.
The pendulum shows that even though there are different settings initially a patterent will arise on which any boundery between two areas will really be a boundery on all four areas.
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Josi
What did Watson and Crick discover and why was this important?
Watson and Crick discovered with the enormous help of Rosalind Franklin that the DNA molecule assumes the structure of a double helix. This was important because now people could understand how it grows and could begin to grow DNA molecules themselves.
What is X-ray crystallography and how does it work?
X-ray crystallography is a type of science that includes biology and chemistry and physics. It works by parsing proteins and nucleic acids like DNA down to the level of atoms and by doing this a three-dimensional atomic map is made of the exact shape of the molecule.
What is the significance of the “Lorenz butterfly?”
The Lorenz butterfly is significant because it made chaos impossible to ignore. The butterfly is a map of differential equations to model the weather. Lorenz noticed that the initial uncertainty was mirrored in the map through looping confusion shaped much like a butterfly.
What is the significance of studying the behavior of the “forced damped pendulum?”
The significance of studying the pendulum is that Yorke discovered that one could not reach definitive, predictive conclusions about the pendulum’s behavior. There are many different factors that play into the role of the pendulum; even months after Yorke designed the map of the pendulum he saw features that he had not previously appreciated. He explained in an article he wrote in Science that small errors in our knowledge can grow exponentially with time, thus making the long-term prediction of the future impossible.
Brian
What did Watson and Crick discover and why was this important?
- Watson and Crick discovered through x-ray crystallographic data that
DNA assumes the structure of a double helix. This was important because, as
Francis Crcik noted, "almost all aspects of life are engineered at the
molecular level and without understanding molecules we can only have a very
sketchy understanding of life itself."
What is X-ray crystallography and how does it work?
- X-ray crystallography is a multi-step process, and the first step is
growing crystals. Afterwards, x-ray pictures are taken of the structure and
the data is interpreted. Growing crystals involves mixing a solutioon of
Eco RI and chemical solutions known as buffers and later placing them in a
refrigerator. To see the crystal on a molecular scale, it is necessary to
illuminate the object with x-rays onto x-ray film.
What is the significance of the "Lorenz butterfly?"
- The lorenz butterfly suggested that there was regularity, or pattens,
in chaos by creating an image of a butterfly. By mapping weather with
differential equations, Lorenz was able to to plot the initial uncertainties
into a recognizable patten.
What is the significance of studying the behavior of the "forced damped
pendulum?"
- The forced damped pendulum is a series of precise equations modeled on
a computer that describe the motions of a pendulum swinging back and
forth.The equations consider inertia, friction at the pivot, gravity, and
several forms of torque occuring when the force is applied. Ultimately,
when the fictitious pendulum was set into motion, it would settle into two
possible behaviors: clockwise or counterclockwise. A map was produced
using these plotted equations and produced a two-tone swirl of phase space.
A phase space map is a combination of coordinates for a system and its state
(or fate).
Rob
1. What did Watson and Crick discover and why was this important?
DNA is in the structure in the form of a double helix. this has led to discoveries about protein and DNA relationships.
2. What is X-ray crystallography and how does it work?
It is the process of growing crystals of molecules so the molecules will all be nicely lined up in a consistent pattern. The crystals are "looked" at with X-rays to determine exactly how the molecules are connected.
3. What is the significance of the "Lorenz butterfly?
This was the first example of a chaotic system showing a pattern.
4. What is the significance of studying the behavior of the "forced damped pendulum?
By studying the results in the 4 outcomes which depend on the initial conditions, we can deduct that there is very little required to influence whether the outcome is any of the 4. The smallest change in the initial conditions can exponentially influence the outcome. Studying the number of possible outcomes in other models can lead us to new possible outcomes that have not been thought of yet.
Shayla
1.
Watson and crick were the first people to assign the double helix form to
DNA, apparently by using crystallographic data to view this form
2.
X-ray crystallography is a way to view DNA molecules. They grow tiny
crystals that can be photographed using x rays which is at a small enough
wavelength to view things on a molecular level. Of course it is much more
complex than this and there are thousands of factors and it takes years
and years to preform these experiments...this is the simplified answer.
3.
The Lorenz butterfly was created by edward lorenz who was trying to map a
weather prediction with mathematical equations. This depicts the chaotic
nature of the weather and when there are several factors effecting it it
turns into one of these beutiful chaos maps.
4.
I think the significance is that you can create models of forces affecting
a real object and then visuallize the actual images of these phenomenon..
The forced damped pendulum is a computer model that makes an image of the
paths a pendulum would go with several forces acting on it. Turns out to
look like marbeling on paper.
Ryan
1) Watson and Crick discovered the double-helix structure of DNA using
X-ray crystallography. This is important because it helped us better
understand genetics and proved theories about the structure.
2) X-ray crystallography is used to figure out the shape of molecules by
creating an x-ray of the molecule as a crystal.
3) The Lorenz Butterfly is a map to show that chaos is has somewhat of a
pattern that can be graphed.
4)The forced damped pendulum is a computer representation of the motion of
a pendulum, which shows some potential proof for the chaos theory, because
a general pattern emerges but its motion cannot be fully predicted.
Justin
1.Watson and Crick used crystallographic data to view the shape of DNA anf
found it took the form of the double helix. This paved the way for
scientists such as Rosenburg to map their exact shape.
2.X-Ray crystallography takes perfectly shaped and patterned DNA, in the
shape of crystals, and zaps the crystals with X-Rays. The waves bounce off
the crysals at prcise angles and hit X-ray film behind. Areas show up on
the film where X-ray density is greatest and scientists use this data to
look at a two-dimensional slice of the shape of the crystal. Many "slices"
are compiled to create a three dimensional picture of the crystal and
hence the DNA strand.
3.Meteorologist edward lorenz used differential equations to model
weather. In plotting the points he realized that although prediction was
impossible a pattern appeared when plotted on a chart. This pattern took
the shape of a buterfly and proved Poincare"s earlier points that random
points intersecting a flat plane in a three dimensional space whould
eventually from a patern,
4.James Yorke created a pendlum with for possible outcomes based on the
initial variables. In charting these outcomes and civing each outcome a
color, "rivers" of color were formed side by side with varying degrees of
width. as there was no specific pattern, yorke looked at the bounderies
between these rivers and found that there was no clear distiction between
colors, all four colors were present at these bounderies meaning there was
a possiblty of a four outcomes. Thus the outcome could not be easily
predicted and he had created another model of "chaos"
Chris
1.Watson and Crick discovered the double helix structure of DNA by using X-Ray crystallography. It is important because it led to greater discoveries in science and medicine and helped us to have a greater scientific understanding of ourselves and all living things.
2. X-Ray crystallography is the process of mapping a molecule by growing a crystal around it and takig pictures of the structure.
3. The Lorenz butterfly showed that although mapping the weather offered no certain predictions, there is some order amidst all the chaos. It was discovered by Edward Lorenz when tryingto find a mathematical solution to predict weather.
4. Studying the forced damped pendulum shows that humans cannot definitively predict the future, and that small errors made in calculation can grow exponentially in time and make long term predictions of the future impossible.
Daemian
* What did Watson and Crick discover and why was this important?
In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick utilized X-ray crystallography to discover DNA's double helix structure, and they received the Nobel for it. The double helix configuration is the basis of further research into DNA splicing that followed from the study of the E Coli bacteria, with its special DNA enzyme that can sever the bonds of the double helix structure.
* What is the X-ray crystallography and how does it work?
X-ray crystallography is the method of creating '3D atomic maps' of proteins and nucleic acids. The workings of it (greatly simplified) are as follows.
1. The object to be visualized is crystalized (a process lasting about 4 years) using extremely pure samples.
2. The crystal is then photographed using X-rays to develop diffraction patterns of the molecules' electron clouds within the crystals.
3. The 'phase problem' (i.e. calibrating the 'focus' of each of the diffraction patterns) must be corrected using analagous 'heavy-atom derivative' photos serving to provide some bearings on the diffraction data.
4. Computers calculate the exact locations of the electrons and create 3D images of the data.
* What is the significance of the "Lorenz butterfly"?
The Lorenz butterfly represents the way in which weather systems never have stability that can be mastered, that is to say their uncertainty; the significance of this representation is that it disproves Laplace's determinism and supports Poincare's belief in 'fortuitous phenomen[a]'.
* What is the significance of studying the behavior of the "forced damped pendulum"?
This virtual pendulum is a mathematical laboratory tool, one whose behavior is caused by two factors, values which can be graphed in two dimensions; when the outcomes (just two) were matched to their respective causal factors on the graph, a phase space map is created. This map represents the discovery by chaos theory that when some natural process is about to change by falling away from a boundary in one or the other direction, like a pendulum, it is on the threshold of all its possible outcomes simultaneously. All of this is quite significant, of course, with respect to the possibility that there is some order in the chaos of nature, an order which is paradoxically unexpected
Melanie
1.What did Watson and Crick discover and why was this important?
They discovered that DNA assumes the structure of a double helix. This is important because if you can construct a three dimensional structure, you can understand what it does.
2.What is X-ray crystallography and how does it work?
It is taking pictures of crystals (molecules) using X-rays. You fire X rays at the crystal. The X-rays diffract when they hit certain dense patches in the crystal. X-ray film catches all the carons and the resulting collection of sharp spots is called a diffraction pattern. The diffraction pictures are circular, and the more intense spots represent places where X rays have ˇ°puddle.ˇ± Crystallographers use the location and intensity of the dots to infer the location of electrons in the crystals. Since electrons are like atmospheres that surround the nuclei of atoms, they tip off the location of the nuclei themselves.
3.What is the significance of the ˇ°Lorenz Butterfly?
Initial uncertainty was mirrored in the map of the iterations, which assumed the shape of the ˇ°Lorenz butterfly.ˇ± Regularity in the midst of chaos.
4. What is the significance of studying the behavior of the ˇ°forced damped pendulum?ˇ±
Study the behavior of a pendulum. Equations that describe the motions of a ˇ°forced damped pendulum.ˇ± The conclusion was that it revealed that when the pendulum was on the boarder of two physical fates, it actually was on the border of all possible fates.