View Proposal #343
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| ID | 343 |
|---|---|
| First Name | Mary Therese |
| Last Name | Padberg |
| Institution | University of Iowa |
| Speaker Category | graduate student |
| Title of Talk | The Twisted Tale of Protein-bound DNA |
| Abstract | DNA is important for our cells to function and grow, but it cannot accomplish this alone. DNA is just the blueprint and its information must be read and expressed by proteins. Understanding the shape of DNA when protein has bound to it (protein-bound DNA) is important for biological and medical research. Laboratory techniques exist which allow scientists to find the geometric structure for some protein-bound DNA complexes. When these techniques fail, we can often experimentally determine a topology for the complex, but topology alone is not enough. In order to understand the structure of protein-bound DNA at a scientifically useful level we need to know the geometry of the structure. In this talk we will create a mathematical model based on the DNA topology from laboratory experiments to describe the geometry of the DNA. We will discuss the flexibility of this model to accept user modifications in order to model the protein-bound DNA sample under variable conditions. Thus, by combining geometric and topological solutions we will be able to more accurately describe the shape of large protein-bound DNA complexes. |
| Subject area(s) | Mathematical Biology |
| Suitable for undergraduates? | Yes |
| Day Preference | Either |
| Computer Needed? | Y |
| Bringing a laptop? | N |
| Overhead Needed? | Y |
| Software requests | Adobe Reader |
| Special Needs | |
| Date Submitted | 9/18/12 |
| Year | 2012 |