DNA Graphics Created with PovChem

Welcome, those seeking graphics images of DNA! And to everyone else as well, my
best wishes.
Blatant self-promotion: Please note that I do freelance
custom molecular graphics work, so if you need a high-quality chemically-themed
picture or animation, please visit my Custom Chemical Graphics
page.
A new version of PovChem is available! A new
graphic-interfaced version of the program I wrote and used to set up the
molecules in this gallery is now available. Follow the link to see more about
what PovChem can do.
You may also be interested in my new vrml2pov program
that can convert VRML files created with chemical programs like Molscript and Ribbons into POV format for
high-quality rendering.
Here's an index of the images in this gallery.
I've had quite a few queries by folks wanting high-quality pictures of DNA. So,
I've decided to make this gallery as a way to satisfy that need and to
demonstrate my PovChem program that combines molecular models and raytracing - POVRay - hence the name. See the end of this
document for more on PovChem.
I hope you enjoy what I have here. Each picture below is a link to a 480x640
image, and as they were created on an SGI Indigo, they may require some gamma
correction to look right on a PC or a Mac. I have included a brief annotation of
each image, describing the scene - what I did and a little of why, as I try to
explore the artistic aspects of the molecules. Caveat: I'm a chemist by
profession, not an artist, so my definition of "art" may be a little
loose for some of you...
The segment of DNA depicted in every image is the same: a C2-symmetric
12-bp-long B-form helix, with hydrogens removed from the riboses for clarity.
The model was constructed with Macromodel,
and the actual self-complementary sequence is:
3'-AGTCTCGAGACT-5'
5'-TCAGAGCTCTGA-3'
NOTE: I don't wish to be a stickler, but these images are
copyrighted. If you wish to use one for any purpose, you must send me mail asking my permission;
then I will grant free use for personal, academic, and non-profit application as
long as appropriate credit is given.

CPK with Stone
A standard CPK model, colored by element, against a stone background. The flat
base-pairs are stacked in the center of the strand, perpendicular to the view,
and the backbone makes a right-handed spiral around the central, vertical axis.
The major groove is in the front center of this image, and the minor groove
wraps around the back and appears at the top and bottom of the model.

Ball and Stick
This model has the same atomic positions and balls colored by element, but now
the sticks convey other information: the backbones are red and blue, and the
bases are purple (Adenine), green (Thymine), yellow (Guanine), and cyan
(Cytosine).

Outdoors
Okay, now that we all know the structure of DNA (right?), I can get a little
more artistic. This is intended to be sort of an outdoorsy image, with each
strand one color - brown and green for tree bark and leaves. Okay, so it's a
little hokey... :) I'm just getting started.

Spotlight
Now I'm starting to use POVRay's slightly more advanced features to go beyond
just chemical information. This is DNA in a strong spotlight - I thought the
contrast in brightness would be neat, making it look like something really on
display.

Model on a Stand
Now I'm taking the idea of a display one step further. This is intended to be a
"real" model, using solid stones for atoms, supported by the central
rod and the heavy stand base.

DNA Paperweight
This was sort of an accident. I put the DNA into a solid glass dodecahedron,
thinking of making one of those fancy object-embedded-in-glass paperweight
thingies. But the dodecahedron is almost invisible, giving this weird (but
interesting?) ghost-object with faceted, split up DNA.
Now you can also see this image animated! There are two versions: Paperweight.mpg (209k) is (obviously!) an
MPEG, and Paperweight.mv (837k) is an
SGI movie. Set your movie player on continuous loop for the nicest effect. Let
me know if there are any problems with these, as I'm new to this whole animation
gig.

Bottled Gene
Some people build ships in bottles, but what about DNA? :) This is intended to
be a piece on display in a museum or art gallery. The bottle and beveled shelf
were created with Moray. The bottle is solid, not hollow, since I felt that
hollow glass has too many surfaces and the reflections get a bit excessive.

Rock Climbing
This was originally intended to be a molecule in a sand dune, but obviously
failed. Of course, it may have succeeded if it were intended to be a molecule in
a cliff face...

Stonehenge
I started this image for a custom job requested by a molecular biology supply
distributor. When he changed his mind about the nature of the picture he wanted,
I continued developing the picture anyway, with the result shown here. It's
supposed to be set in the late evening, near sunset.

Legos
I have spent a huge amount of time setting up PovChem so that it's easy to
replace atoms with any arbitrary object. This is the first test run, using my
old favorite - Lego blocks! I know the dots don't all line up right... :) But I
like the effect, anyway. Created using Stefan Maes's POV Lego library.

Backgammon
This bears obvious similarity to the Lego picture, but hey! May as well exploit
all the possibilities... :) Believe it or not, the idea for using dice as atoms
came to me in a dream. I'm still working on getting the textures just right, but
this is basically it. I created the dice objects and game board freehand, and if
you want the object source, contact
me.

Mapped DNA
This is a plain CPK model, but with a world map texture-mapped onto the surface.
It was originally a demo for one of my commercial clients. They decided they
wanted something a little different, but I liked this image enough to want to
put it up here as well.
That's it for now. Keep watching for more pictures to show up as I create them!
PovChem
I have written a program I call PovChem, which is what I
used to make all the actual DNA molecules in this gallery. This link is to a
separate page that describes in more detail what PovChem can do.
Back to my home page...
Interesting pages that have some relevance to mine:
You are visitor number
to the gallery since I opened it on 11/16/95. Please send me your
comments and suggestions to the address below. Thanks, and come again! :)
This page and all its contents Copyright © 1995-1996 by Paul Thiessen / paul@ChemicalGraphics.com. All
rights reserved. Last updated April 10, 2000.