The Molecules of Life

This is a visual introduction to the major classes of biologically significant molecules. The purpose of this page is to provide students and teachers with an introduction to computer rendering and manipulation of complex molecular structures. The molecules are displayed in a browser window using the "plug-in" CHIME.   This VERY powerful software permits the user to manipulate and display large complex molecules with ease. The actual molecule files are available to freely download from a variety of internet sites - many of which include built in molecular search engines. There are literally tens of thousands of molecule files available. Links to these data bases can be found on the Resources page.

You MUST have the FREE CHIME PLUG-IN installed on your computer in order to view the molecules listed on these web pages!

Once you have downloaded and installed Chime, you are ready to begin viewing an almost limitless variety of molecules.

To get started simply select one of the molecule groups in the upper left window.  Then select a molecule from the LOWER left frame and it should appear in THIS WINDOW!

Chime's powerful menu is accessible by "right clicking" on the mouse button while in the "molecule window."  The user should feel free to experiment with the wide variety of menu options.  In particular, the "display," "color" and "selection" options provide tremendous rendering tools for choosing and highlighting various components within a molecule.  This is especially useful when investigating huge protein structures.  Teachers may wish to write up assignments to accompany this selection of molecules or create their own web pages using CHIME and assorted molecule files. When viewing proteins, start by selecting the "display - ribbon" and "color - structure" options to see the secondary structure.  You can "zoom" in and out by pressing "shift" while "left clicking" AND moving the mouse. You can "grab" the molecule and move it across the page by pressing "ctrl" while "right clicking" AND moving the mouse.

Resources:  Molecules on the World Wide Web.
 
 

For more information please email Doug Fraser at: dfraser@ourniche.net