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Helical growth is when cells or organs expand, resulting in helical shaped cells or organs and typically including the breakage of symmetry. This is seen in fungi, algae, and other higher plant cells or organs. [1] Helical growth can occur naturally, such as in tendrils or in twining plants.
Symmetry in biology refers to the symmetry observed in organisms, including plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria. External symmetry can be easily seen by just looking at an organism. For example, the face of a human being has a plane of symmetry down its centre, or a pine cone displays a clear symmetrical spiral pattern.
A helical wheel is a type of plot or visual representation used to illustrate the properties of alpha helices in proteins. The sequence of amino acids that make up a helical region of the protein's secondary structure are plotted in a rotating manner where the angle of rotation between consecutive amino acids is 100°, so that the final ...
In biology, the notion of symmetry is also used as in physics, that is to say to describe the properties of the objects studied, including their interactions. A remarkable property of biological evolution is the changes of symmetry corresponding to the appearance of new parts and dynamics.
The chirality of a molecule that has a helical, propeller, or screw-shaped geometry is called helicity [5] or helical chirality. [6] [7] The screw axis or the D n, or C n principle symmetry axis is considered to be the axis of chirality. Some sources consider helical chirality to be a type of axial chirality, [7] and some do not.
Helices are important in biology, as the DNA molecule is formed as two intertwined helices, and many proteins have helical substructures, known as alpha helices. The word helix comes from the Greek word ἕλιξ, "twisted, curved". [1] A "filled-in" helix – for example, a "spiral" (helical) ramp – is a surface called a helicoid. [2]
Symmetry breaking in biology is the process by which uniformity is broken, or the number of points to view invariance are reduced, to generate a more structured and improbable state. [1] Symmetry breaking is the event where symmetry along a particular axis is lost to establish a polarity.
Tendril perversion is a geometric phenomenon sometimes observed in helical structures in which the direction of the helix transitions between left-handed and right-handed. [1] [2] Such a reversal of chirality is commonly seen in helical plant tendrils and telephone handset cords. [3] The phenomenon was known to Charles Darwin, [4] who wrote in ...