Picture still generating
Product Description
The following information is about the DNA Molecule Models I offer for sale in my Shop at Shapeways.
How coding and decoding works in the DNA Models I offer at Shapeways:
This is the translation code I use to go from a text to a DNA code that is used in the 3D printed Molecule Model: A = Alanine = GCT, B = (Alanine) = GCA, C = Cysteine = TGC, D = Aspartic acid = GAT, E = Glutamic acid = GAG , F = Phenylalanine = TTT, G = Glycine = GGG, H = Histidine = CAT, I = Isoleucine = ATA, J = (Isoleucine) = ATC, K = Lysine = AAG, L = Leucine = CTC, M = Methionine = ATG, N = Asparagine = AAT, O = Pyrrolysine(unusual) = TAG, P = Proline = CCC, Q = Glutamine = CAG, R = Arginine = CGT, S = Serine = TCA, T = Threonine = ACT, U = Selenocysteine(unusual) = TGA, V = Valine = GTC, W = Tryptophan = TGG, X = (Valine) = GTA, Y = Tyrosine = TAC, Z = (Tyrosine) = TAT
This is based on the universal genetic code as explained here on wikipedia. As not all letters of the alphabet are encoded by an ordinairy amino acid, I also use some more exotic amino acids, they are encoding the letters O and U and are indicated above as (unusual). Then still not all leters are covered, so I have used some arbitrary codes, these are the letters B, J, X and Z and are indicated by the amino acids between brackets.
Base coloring in the 3D print is according to Nucleic Acid Database (NDB) Atlas:
A = Adenine = Red, C= Cytosine = Yellow, G = Guanine = Green, T = Thymine = Blue.
To decipher the code from the 3D print: Start reading from the strand of which the backbone ends with an orange (phosphor) atom. For horizontal models that leaves two possibilities, you will have to determine at which of the two ends to start. For the vertical models you have to start reading at the top.
Example A: The letter "A" is encoded by the base triplet for Alanine which is "GCT". In the 3d print this is shown as "Green-Yellow-Blue".
Example B: The word "Molecule" in DNA code is "ATG TAG CTC GAG TGC TGA CTC GAG". In the 3D printed DNA Molecule Model this will be encoded as "Red-Blue-Green, Blue-Red-Green, Yellow-Blue-Yellow, Green-Red-Green, Blue-Green-Yellow, Blue-Green-Red, Yellow-Blue-Yellow, Green-Red-Green".
Color by atom, using CPK coloring, is also possible.
Hydrogen(H) = White, Carbon(C) = Black, Nitrogen(N) = Dark Blue, Oxygen(O) = Red, Phosphorus(P) = Orange. This color option is scientifically correct and very useful for understanding the exact molecular structure of a DNA molecule. But reading out the DNA code is very difficult as the bases can only be identified by their structure and not by their color as in the standard coloring option I offer.
How coding and decoding works in the DNA Models I offer at Shapeways:
This is the translation code I use to go from a text to a DNA code that is used in the 3D printed Molecule Model: A = Alanine = GCT, B = (Alanine) = GCA, C = Cysteine = TGC, D = Aspartic acid = GAT, E = Glutamic acid = GAG , F = Phenylalanine = TTT, G = Glycine = GGG, H = Histidine = CAT, I = Isoleucine = ATA, J = (Isoleucine) = ATC, K = Lysine = AAG, L = Leucine = CTC, M = Methionine = ATG, N = Asparagine = AAT, O = Pyrrolysine(unusual) = TAG, P = Proline = CCC, Q = Glutamine = CAG, R = Arginine = CGT, S = Serine = TCA, T = Threonine = ACT, U = Selenocysteine(unusual) = TGA, V = Valine = GTC, W = Tryptophan = TGG, X = (Valine) = GTA, Y = Tyrosine = TAC, Z = (Tyrosine) = TAT
This is based on the universal genetic code as explained here on wikipedia. As not all letters of the alphabet are encoded by an ordinairy amino acid, I also use some more exotic amino acids, they are encoding the letters O and U and are indicated above as (unusual). Then still not all leters are covered, so I have used some arbitrary codes, these are the letters B, J, X and Z and are indicated by the amino acids between brackets.
Base coloring in the 3D print is according to Nucleic Acid Database (NDB) Atlas:
A = Adenine = Red, C= Cytosine = Yellow, G = Guanine = Green, T = Thymine = Blue.
To decipher the code from the 3D print: Start reading from the strand of which the backbone ends with an orange (phosphor) atom. For horizontal models that leaves two possibilities, you will have to determine at which of the two ends to start. For the vertical models you have to start reading at the top.
Example A: The letter "A" is encoded by the base triplet for Alanine which is "GCT". In the 3d print this is shown as "Green-Yellow-Blue".
Example B: The word "Molecule" in DNA code is "ATG TAG CTC GAG TGC TGA CTC GAG". In the 3D printed DNA Molecule Model this will be encoded as "Red-Blue-Green, Blue-Red-Green, Yellow-Blue-Yellow, Green-Red-Green, Blue-Green-Yellow, Blue-Green-Red, Yellow-Blue-Yellow, Green-Red-Green".
Color by atom, using CPK coloring, is also possible.
Hydrogen(H) = White, Carbon(C) = Black, Nitrogen(N) = Dark Blue, Oxygen(O) = Red, Phosphorus(P) = Orange. This color option is scientifically correct and very useful for understanding the exact molecular structure of a DNA molecule. But reading out the DNA code is very difficult as the bases can only be identified by their structure and not by their color as in the standard coloring option I offer.
