Various basic animations of DNA. These animations were originally designed for the opening ceremony performance of the 2003 International Congress of Genetics (http://www.geneticscongress2003.com).

The DNA model was developed from the X-ray crystallographic structure available from the Protein Data Bank (http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/). The DNA's jiggle was added to suggest Brownian motion caused by thermal energy and agitation by surrounding molecules. The jiggle was driven by a fractal-based dynamics system created with Maya (http://www.alias.com) animation software.

This animation demonstrates the structure of DNA by unwinding then unzipping the double helix.

Various basic animations of DNA. These animations were originally designed for the opening ceremony performance of th e 2003 International Congress of Genetics (http://www.geneticscongress2003.com).

The DNA model was developed from the X-ray crystallographic structure available from the Protein Data Bank (http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/ ). The DNA's jiggle was added to suggest Brownian motion caused by thermal energy and agitation by surrounding molecules. The jiggle was driven by a fractal-based dynamics system created with Maya (http://www.alias.com) animation software.

This animation is a medium shot of DNA strands.

Various basic animations of DNA. These animations were originally designed for the opening ceremony performance of th e 2003 International Congress of Genetics (http://www.geneticscongress2003.com). The DNA model was developed from the X-ray crystallographic structure available from the Protein Data Bank (http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/ ). The DNA's jiggle was added to suggest Brownian motion caused by thermal energy and agitation by surrounding molecules. The jiggle was driven by a fractal-based dynamics system created with Maya (http://www.alias.com) animation software.
A close-up of the DNA molecule, created with a shallow depth-of-field camera for visual interest.

This animation presents the various levels of DNA organization (wrapping) within mitotic chromosomes. Although the histone, nucleosome and chromatin structures were derived from published data, the middle "levels" of wrapping depicted here are controversial as to what form they take or even whether they exist. The top-level coils that create the chromatids in this animation are not usually shown in text-book diagrams, yet published data presents good evidence for their existence and structure as it is presented here.
The histone, nucleosome and DNA models were derived from their PDB (http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/ ) structures and other published data. The histone's N-terminal arms were added by hand, as they are not resolved by X-ray crystallography, due to their highly dynamic nature. The time-lapse footage of the mitotic cell was filmed by Prof Jeremy Pickett-Heaps (http://www.cytographics.com/).

Transcription factors assemble at a DNA promoter region found at the start of a gene. Promoter regions are characterised by the DNA's base sequence, which contains the repetition TATATA \311 and for this reason is known as the "TATA box".
The TATA box is gripped by the transcription factor TFIID (yellow-brown) that marks the attachment point for RNA polymerase and associated transcription factors. In the middle of TFIID is the TATA Binding Protein subunit, which recognises and fastens onto the TATA box. It's tight grip makes the DNA kink 90\373, which is thought to serve as a physical landmark for the start of a gene.
A mediator (purple) protein complex arrives carrying the enzyme RNA polymerase II (blue-green). It manoeuvres the RNA polymerase into place. Other transcription factors arrive (TFIIA and TFIIB - small blue molecules) and lock into place. Then TFIIH (green) arrives. One of its jobs is to pry apart the two strands of DNA (via helicase action) to allow the RNA polymerase to get access to the DNA bases.
Finally, the initiation complex requires contact with activator proteins, which bind to specific sequences of DNA known as enhancer regions. These regions can be thousands of base pairs away from the initiation complex. The consequent bending of the activator protein/enhancer region into contact with the initiation-complex resembles a scorpion's tail in this animation.
The activator protein triggers the release of the RNA polymerase, which runs along the DNA transcribing the gene into mRNA (yellow ribbon).

Transcription factors assemble at a DNA promoter region found at the start of a gene. Promoter regions are characterised by the DNA's base sequence, which contains the repetition TATATA \311 and for this reason is known as the "TATA box".

The TATA box is gripped by the transcription factor TFIID (yellow-brown) that marks the attachment point for RNA polymerase and associated transcription factors. In the middle of TFIID is the TATA Binding Protein subunit, which recognises and fastens onto the TATA box. It's tight grip makes the DNA kink 90\373, which is thought to serve as a physical landmark for the start of a gene.

A mediator (purple) protein complex arrives carrying the enzyme RNA polymerase II (blue-green). It manoeuvres the RNA polymerase into place. Other transcription factors arrive (TFIIA and TFIIB - small blue molecules) and lock into place. Then TFIIH (green) arrives. One of its jobs is to pry apart the two strands of DNA (via helicase action) to allow the RNA polymerase to get access to the DNA bases.

Finally, the initiation complex requires contact with activator proteins, which bind to specific sequences of DNA known as enhancer regions. These regions can be thousands of base pairs away from the initiation complex. The consequent bending of the activator protein/enhancer region into contact with the initiation-complex resembles a scorpion's tail in this animation.

The activator protein triggers the release of the RNA polymerase, which runs along the DNA transcribing the gene into mRNA (yellow ribbon).

The first shot in this animation is of a Transcription Initiation Complex, as described in Part 1: Transcription Initiation Complex

The RNA polymerase unzips a small portion of the DNA helix exposing the bases on each strand. One of the strands acts as a template for the synthesis of an RNA molecule. The base-sequence code is transcribed by matching these DNA bases with RNA subunits, forming a long RNA polymer chain.

This type of RNA is called messenger RNA (mRNA). The job of mRNA is to carry the message from the DNA to a ribosome, for translation of the gene into protein.

This animation depicts the process of DNA recombination using the restriction enzyme EcoRI.

The animation opens with a view of a DNA plasmid loop. An EcoRI enzyme approaches and attaches to the DNA's major groove. The enzyme then runs along the groove scanning the DNA for the base sequence xGAATTCx. When it finds this sequence it breaks the sugar-phosphate bonds on either side of DNA, splicing the plasmid. A gene (glowing DNA) with complementary 'sticky ends" then attaches to the end of the plasmid. The enzyme DNA Ligase (looking like frozen peas in this animation) then repairs the nicks in the sugar-phosphate backbone, joining the two DNA strands.

This animation depicts aspects of the haemoglobin molecules and the mutant form that causes the disease sickle cell anaemia.

Red blood cells supply oxygen to the body using their cargo of haemoglobin, a protein that can capture and release oxygen. In this animation a haemoglobin molecule first assemble from subunits. The haemoglobin binds with four molecules of oxygen (blue) in the lungs, and then releases them again when the blood passes through body tissues with low oxygen concentrations.

When the sickle-mutant haemoglobin gives up it's oxygen to the tissues, a conformational change results in an amino acid (yellow-green) to pop out and cause the molecule to stick together and form stiff fibers. These long fibers distort red blood cells into their characteristic "sickle" shape (not shown).  The sickle red blood cells can then clog small blood vessels, depriving vital organs of oxygen, resulting in anaemia, jaundice, organ damage and other symptoms.