3 ms·
> Ahh, X-ray crystallography, a.k.a. the field of modern (bio)chemistry that most closely resembles medieval alchemy. This is amusingly accurate and makes me w
by divbzero 5y ago
> Ahh, X-ray crystallography, a.k.a. the field of modern (bio)chemistry that most closely resembles medieval alchemy.
This is amusingly accurate and makes me wonder if our understanding and techniques will ever advance to the point where crystallography no longer feels like medieval alchemy. Surely the process is largely deterministic and we simply can’t control the relevant initial conditions with our current methods.
- mahkeiro 5y agoFortunately cryo-EM is helping to overcome the cristallography bottleneck. B progress regarding cryo-EM resolution have been made in the last years.
- hoseja 5y agoHas it's own share of alchemy. Remember, the water has to remain vitreous. This is sometimes quite incompatible with the environment proteins want to exist in in their natural state.