Some molecules need to be flexible to function

Biological systems contain very small to extremely large molecules. The three-dimensional structures of these molecules are crucial to the way they work, and often these structures need to be able to flex and move for correct functioning.

The aim of this project is to teach students how we visualize and simulate biological molecules using computers, and how these simulations impact on the real world.

This will include:

• Discovering how to visualize simple and complex molecules using computers
• Learning the basic physics principles that affect the way that molecules behave in three dimensions
• Simulating the behavior of biological molecules
• Analyzing and visualizing the simulated behavior of the molecules
• Understanding the effect of this behavior on the functioning of the organism
• Reporting the observations and conclusions by preparing a scientific poster

• Prof Fourie Joubert
• Mr Pieter Burger
• Mr Hamilton Ganesan
• Mr Riaan Koegelenberg
• Ms Danielle Tiedt