Diffraction of DNA and the DNA of my Physics Class

In this episode, I talk about DNA: a simple DNA diffraction and interference experiment using the spring from a pen, and the DNA, the structure of my introductory physics class during the spring '22 semester. 

 

Full show notes at:

www.physicsalive.com/dna

 

DNA Diffraction and Interference Lab and/or Demonstration

Figure 1: X-ray diffraction pattern of B-DNA labeled Photo 51 by Rosalind Franklin.

Figure 2: Interference pattern from a pen spring. Pattern produced from a red diode laser passing through the spring from a pen. Projected on a screen 8 meters away.

Here are the articles I referenced about DNA interference and diffraction experiments:

• DNA Science AAPT Digi Kit
• How Rosalind Franklin Discovered the Helical Structure of DNA: Experiments in Diffraction

• Revealing the Backbone Structure of B-DNA from Laser Optical Simulations of Its X-ray Diffraction Diagram

X-ray diffraction and DNA optical transform from the ICE (Institute for Chemical Education) Online store at wisc.edu

• Optical transform demo kit
• DNA optical transform kit

DNA of Brad's introductory physics class (Spring 2022)

Star grading system:

Here's the entire syllabus for the spring 2022 semester of PHYS 105: Survey of Physics II for life science majors:

• Moser Syllabus 2022 Spring

Specifications grading:

• "Specifications Grading" by Linda Nilson
• Short article about Specs Grading by Linda Nilson
• Blog post on Specifications Grading by Robert Talbert