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Related Concept Videos

Spectrophotometry: Introduction01:16

Spectrophotometry: Introduction

Spectrophotometry is the quantitative measurement of the absorption, reflection, diffraction, or transmission of electromagnetic radiation through a material as a function of the intensity and wavelength of the radiation. A spectrophotometer is a device used to measure the change in the radiation intensity caused by its interaction with the material.
The essential components of a spectrophotometer include a source of electromagnetic radiation, a slot for placing a material to be analyzed, and a...
Molecular Spectroscopy: Absorption and Emission01:14

Molecular Spectroscopy: Absorption and Emission

Molecules possess discrete energy levels called quantum states. Unlike atoms, which have simpler energy levels, molecules possess additional rotational and vibrational energy levels. Each energy level is separated by an energy gap, with the gaps between adjacent electronic, vibrational, and rotational levels varying significantly. The three types of energy levels in a diatomic molecule are shown in Figure 1.
UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Molecular Electronic Transitions01:16

UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Molecular Electronic Transitions

In Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, the absorption of electromagnetic radiation is used to probe the electronic structure of molecules. This technique provides insights into molecular electronic transitions, particularly the movement of electrons between different molecular orbitals. Radiation is absorbed if the energy of the electromagnetic radiation passing through the molecule is precisely equal to the energy difference between the excited and ground states. During this process,...
X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples01:10

X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples

X-ray diffraction or XRD is an analytical tool that utilizes X-rays to study ordered structures such as crystalline organic and inorganic samples, polycrystalline materials, proteins, carbohydrates, and drugs.
According to Bragg's law, when X-rays strike the sample positioned on a stage, the rays are  scattered by the electron clouds around the sample atoms. The  X-ray diffraction or scattering is caused by constructive interference of the X-ray waves that reflect off the internal crystal...
NMR Spectroscopy: Chemical Shift Overview01:15

NMR Spectroscopy: Chemical Shift Overview

The position of the absorption signal of a sample is reported relative to the position of the signal of tetramethylsilane (TMS), which is added as an internal reference while recording spectra. The difference between the absorption frequencies of the sample and TMS (in Hz) is divided by the spectrometer operating frequency (in MHz) to obtain a dimensionless quantity called the chemical shift. It is reported on the δ (delta) scale and expressed in parts per million.
For instance, the proton...
Applications Of NMR In Biology01:25

Applications Of NMR In Biology

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a very valuable analytical technique for researchers. It has been used for more than 50 years as an analytical tool. F. Bloch and E. Purcell formulated NMR in 1946 and won the 1952 Nobel Prize in Physics  for their work. Biological macromolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and organic molecules including pharmaceutical compounds, can be studied using this versatile tool that exploits the magnetic properties of certain nuclei.
The...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Terahertz Imaging and Characterization Protocol for Freshly Excised Breast Cancer Tumors
08:56

Terahertz Imaging and Characterization Protocol for Freshly Excised Breast Cancer Tumors

Published on: April 5, 2020

THz-Spectroscopy of Biological Molecules.

T R Globus1, D L Woolard, T Khromova

  • 1University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.

Journal of Biological Physics
|January 25, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Terahertz spectroscopy reveals unique vibrational fingerprints in DNA and RNA. These terahertz phonon modes, linked to molecular vibrations, offer sequence-specific insights into biomacromolecules.

Keywords:
Absorptionanisotropybiological moleculesterahertztransmission spectroscopyvibration modes

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Characterization of Biological Absorption Spectra Spanning the Visible to the Short-Wave Infrared
07:38

Characterization of Biological Absorption Spectra Spanning the Visible to the Short-Wave Infrared

Published on: January 10, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 14, 2026

Terahertz Imaging and Characterization Protocol for Freshly Excised Breast Cancer Tumors
08:56

Terahertz Imaging and Characterization Protocol for Freshly Excised Breast Cancer Tumors

Published on: April 5, 2020

Characterization of Biological Absorption Spectra Spanning the Visible to the Short-Wave Infrared
07:38

Characterization of Biological Absorption Spectra Spanning the Visible to the Short-Wave Infrared

Published on: January 10, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Molecular Spectroscopy
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Terahertz (THz) frequency absorption spectra of DNA molecules are linked to low-frequency internal helical vibrations.
  • Identifying THz phonon modes in biological materials is challenging due to experimental difficulties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate the possibility and utility of measuring THz absorption spectra of DNA and related biological materials.
  • To confirm that observed absorption features are intrinsic properties determined by phonon modes.

Main Methods:

  • Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in the terahertz frequency range.
  • Normal mode analysis to predict absorption spectra of polynucleotide RNA Poly[G]-Poly[C].
  • Interference spectroscopy to extract absorption characteristics and study orientation dependence.

Main Results:

  • Spectra of different DNA samples showed numerous modes with sequence-specific uniqueness.
  • A correlation was found between calculated and experimentally observed spectra of RNA polymers, confirming internal vibration modes.
  • Strong anisotropy of terahertz characteristics was demonstrated in aligned DNA and polynucleotide films.

Conclusions:

  • Terahertz absorption spectra provide valuable, sequence-specific information about DNA and RNA macromolecules.
  • The fundamental nature of observed resonance structures is attributed to internal vibration modes within macromolecules.
  • THz spectroscopy is a viable and fruitful technique for characterizing biological materials.