What is vitacrystallography?
Vitacrystallography is an emerging field that applies X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques to study biological tissues. Unlike traditional crystallography, which focuses on rigid, well-ordered crystals, Vitacrystallography investigates the semi-ordered or amorphous structures found in living organisms. By analyzing how X-rays interact with biological matter, scientists can detect molecular arrangements, identify structural changes due to disease, and gain insights into the organization of cells, proteins, and extracellular matrices.
This field has significant implications in medicine, biomaterials, and tissue engineering. Understanding the crystalline properties of living tissue can help researchers develop better treatments for degenerative diseases, improve biomaterial compatibility for implants, and even advance regenerative medicine. Vitacrystallography provides a window into the complex interplay between biological function and structural organization at the microscopic scale.
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History
April 1912
Max von Laue
Max von Laue and his team demonstrated that X-rays could be diffracted by crystals, proving that atomic structures could be studied using X-ray techniques. This discovery laid the foundation for modern crystallography.
November 1913
William & Lawrence Bragg
Father-and-son duo William and Lawrence Bragg formulated Bragg’s Law, providing a mathematical explanation for X-ray diffraction patterns. This breakthrough allowed scientists to determine atomic structures and earned them the 1915 Nobel Prize in Physics.
February 1926
Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin
Dorothy Hodgkin pioneered the use of X-ray crystallography to determine the structures of complex biological molecules. Her work led to the structural discoveries of penicillin, vitamin B12, and insulin, revolutionizing medicine.
May 1952
Rosalind Franklin & Maurice Wilkins
Rosalind Franklin captured the famous “Photo 51,” an X-ray diffraction image that revealed the helical structure of DNA. This critical data helped James Watson and Francis Crick propose the DNA double-helix model in 1953.
October 1985
Herbert Hauptman & Jerome Karle
Hauptman and Karle developed mathematical techniques to determine crystal structures more efficiently, earning them the 1985 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Their work significantly accelerated structural analysis in various scientific fields.