Lutz:
I would like to second your point about people (students or otherwise)
seeing a 3D structure. We semi-frequently have high-school students come
through the lab, and the thing that always impresses them the most is
being able to rotate a 3D represenation of a molecule, especially when
they understand that it's a molecule they depend on to live (i.e. in
them, part of their biochemistry). This is (obviously?) related to their
exposure to all sorts of other video experiences (movies, TV, video games,
etc.), but it is still nice to see that connection made, especially since
they seem to have a more-or-less difficult time making a connection to
anything else we can show them (I guess benchwork just isn't that sexy).
--
Steve Lane
System, Network and Security Administrator
Doudna Lab
Biomolecular Structure and Mechanism Group
UC Berkeley
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