Professor David S. Goodsell
Molecular Biology
The Scripps Research Institute
LaJolla, CA

Monday, April 11, 2016
3:00 pm (CT)
3269 Beckman Institute

Abstract

Visualization of the nanoscale world presents an interesting challenge: how do you create images of objects that are far smaller than the wavelength of light? Scientists and artists have developed several metaphors to address this challenge, each capturing a relevant aspect of the molecule, but omitting other aspects. I will present an approach for the creation of images that span the scale range from nanometers to micrometers, depicting subjects ranging from the atomic structure of biomolecules to the molecular ultrastructure of cells. The goal of this work is to create a consistent visual scheme for use over the entire range, based on experimental data from different spatial resolutions.

David S. Goodsell is an Associate Professor of Molecular Biology at the Scripps Research Institute. He received his Ph.D. from UCLA, where he used x-ray crystallography and computer graphics to study the structure of DNA. He now divides his time between biomolecular research and science education. He is author of the Molecule of the Month, a feature at the RCSB Protein Data Bank that presents the structure and function of a new molecule each month, and several illustrated books on biological molecules and their diverse roles within living cells, and the growing connections between biology and nanotechnology. More information may be found at: http://mgl.scripps.edu/people/goodsell