Complexity in a Molecular String: Hierarchical Structure as Is Exemplified in a DNA Chain

Kenichi Yoshikawa
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Kenichi Yoshikawa: Nagoya Univ., Graduate School of Human Informatics

A chapter in Complexity and Diversity, 1997, pp 81-90 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract A long molecular string, or a polymer, undergoes a discrete transition between an elongated coil and a collapsed globule. Single-chain observations of natural long DNA chains have provided clear evidence that individual chains undergo a first-order phase transition. In contrast, the ensemble average of the chains appears to be continuous; i.e., there is neither a first-order nor a second-order phase transition for the ensemble. This marked difference in the behavior of the transition between different levels in the ensemble is expected to be a general characteristic of hierarchical systems that consist of microscopic, mesoscopic and macroscopic levels.

Keywords: Statistical physics with a hierarchy; Self-organized nano-structure; Coil-globule transition; Crystallization of a single polymer; Collapse of DNA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1997
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-4-431-66862-6_15

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DOI: 10.1007/978-4-431-66862-6_15

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