Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 8
FIBER X-RAY DIFFRACTION AND DNA DOUBLE
HELIX
INTRODUCTION
Fiber X-ray diffraction has been used to determine the secondary structure
of DNA. In 1953, Franklin and Gosling obtained the first useful
experimental result. To analyze their diffraction picture in detail, we need
to examine its near forward region shown in Fig. 8-1, up to the fourth layer
line. That picture is symmetric left-to-right and top-to-bottom:
Figure 8-1.
Sketch of the fiber X-ray diffraction picture of the sodium salt of DNA obtained
Franklin and Gosling (1953), including only up to the fourth layer line.
