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DNA

     
Out of date.  Take a look at: 

     DNA_XTAL  

In response to a question on bboard... Nessie asked how 
could possibly crystallize, wouldnt the kinetics be awful? 
     
Well, crystal growth of proteins to obtain the structure via
x-rays is an old technique.  C.P. Snow has people doing it
in his novel _The Search_ which takes place pre-world war
II.  Yes, getting crystals of such things is a bitch
(there's a guy in the CMR who does this who would be pleased
to get a cubic millimeter of solid Urea, I'm sure).
       
I thought of two possibilities: this is too weird to be
right, but I'll mention it first: maybe each DNA mol   
xtalizes with itself first, forming a predictable shape that
then links with other molecules.  Second thought: they may
work with pieces of DNA at a time, really crystallyzing only
a small sub-set of a DNA at any given time.  
       
I looked at a few papers, and got the impression that the
latter was right...
                   
But from a talk at AACG West, I gather my first thought was 
correct.  The DNA molecules form a kind of colloidal       
suspension that crystallyzes with a layer of water between 
molecules.
                                                           
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