event

Random Walks, DNA Elasticity, and the Motion of Proteins

Primary tabs

Abstract:

A particle undergoing a random walk is a classic physics problem that underlies our understanding of diffusion, the molecular nature of matter, polymer conformations, and the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. In addition to its conceptual importance in physics, a random walk is a surpisingly good model for some biophysical problems. This talk will present several examples, including DNA conformation and protein motion along a biopolymer, that are well described by a biased or unbiased random walk. I will discuss the physical theory and biophysical applications of several problems from our recent research: finite-length effects in DNA elasticity, the coupling of a biased walker with a fluctuating wall and collective effects that occur when multiple walkers change the length of a track.

Status

  • Workflow Status:Published
  • Created By:Colly Mitchell
  • Created:03/09/2011
  • Modified By:Fletcher Moore
  • Modified:10/07/2016