Nonlinear Physics of DNA

ISBN-13: 9780471978244 / Angielski / Twarda / 1998 / 220 str.

Ludmila Vladimirovna Yakushevich; L. V. Iakushevich;Yakushevich

Opis

The results obtained from, and techniques used in, different fields of science, such as mathematics, physics and biology are selected, gathered and analyzed to provide an introduction to the developing field of research into the nonlinear physics of DNA. The DNA molecule, which has been traditionally studied by techniques developed through molecular biology, is considered here rather from a physicist's viewpoint, as a nonlinear dynamical system. This is a complimentary way of looking at the molecule, and is arrived at following both a theoretical analysis of interactions and motions in DNA, and as a result of interpretation of experimental data. It is shown that this nonlinear physics approach allows one to explain some of the mechanisms of DNA functioning, and that it can offer possibilities in the study and interpretation of genetic codes.

Spis treści

DNA Structure.

DNA Dynamics.

DNA Functioning.

Linear Theory of DNA.

Nonlinear Theory of DNA: Ideal Dynamical Models.

Nonlinear Theory of DNA: Non–Ideal Models.

Nonlinear Theory of DNA: Statistics of Nonlinear Excitations.

Experimental Tests of DNA Nonlinearity.

Nonlinearity and Functioning.

Appendices.

References.

Index.

O autorze

Ludmila Vladimirovna Yakushevich, Ukrainian, Russian physicist, researcher. Recipient medal 850th Anniversary of Moscow, 1997. Yakushevich, Ludmila Vladimirovna was born on October 20, 1947 in Chernovtsy, Ukraine. Diploma in physics, Moscow State University, 1971. Doctor of Philosophy in Theoretical and Mathematics Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia, 1978. Doctor of Science in Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, 1998. Postgraduate fellow Institute Biological Physics, Academy of Sciences Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics, Pushchino, Russia, 1971–1973, junior researcher, 1973–1990. Researcher Institute Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 1990–1991, senior researcher, 1991–1998, leading researcher, since 1998. Ludmila Vladimirovna Yakushevich, Ukrainian, Russian physicist, researcher. Recipient medal 850th Anniversary of Moscow, 1997. Yakushevich, Ludmila Vladimirovna was born on October 20, 1947 in Chernovtsy, Ukraine. Diploma in physics, Moscow State University, 1971. Doctor of Philosophy in Theoretical and Mathematics Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, Russia, 1978. Doctor of Science in Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, 1998. Postgraduate fellow Institute Biological Physics, Academy of Sciences Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics, Pushchino, Russia, 1971–1973, junior researcher, 1973–1990. Researcher Institute Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 1990–1991, senior researcher, 1991–1998, leading researcher, since 1998.

Blurb

The study of DNA is one of the most important areas of research in modern biochemistry and biology. It is an extremely complex field, and in recent years researchers have found that the application of nonlinear physics methods has led to significant increases in our understanding of the subject. This, the first book on the subject, examines both the experimental and theoretical methods which have been used to study the DNA molecule. Beginning with introductory chapters on DNA structure and dynamics, Nonlinear Physics of DNA goes on to discuss the more advanced recent work. This includes a comparison between linear and nonlinear approaches to the DNA molecule, a chapter devoted to the statistics of nonlinear excitations of DNA, and examples of the interpretation of experimental data on the dynamics of DNA in terms of nonlinear theory. Nonlinear Physics of DNA will prove essential reading for graduate students and researchers in biophysics and nonlinear physics as well as allowing biologists, biochemists and physicists to continue to develop nontraditional techniques of investigating the DNA molecule.