ICMCS seminar - Topology and Mechanics of Kinetoplast-Inspired Olympic Gels
ICMCS seminar - Topology and Mechanics of Kinetoplast-Inspired Olympic Gels
- Event time: 4:00pm until 5:00pm
- Event date: 20th April 2026
- Speaker: Dr Alexander Klotz (California State University)
- Location: James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB) 2511 James Clerk Maxwell Building Peter Guthrie Tait Road Edinburgh EH9 3FD GB
Event details
Title: Topology and Mechanics of Kinetoplast-Inspired Olympic Gels
Abstract: An Olympic gel is a type of material consisting of topologically linked ring polymers, predicted to have interesting nonlinear mechanical properties. Kinetoplast DNA is a type of naturally occurring Olympic gel, best described as "molecular chainmail," which consists of thousands of linked circular DNA molecules and is found in the mitochondria of trypanosome parasites. Olympic gels may be assembled in the same manner as kinetoplast DNA, or through other synthetic means. In this talk I will discuss our computational efforts to understand the formation of Olympic gels and the relationship between their network topology and their mechanical properties, exploring whether these different assembly processes lead to unique topological and physical features in Olympic gel networks.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://ed-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/81211470751
Meeting ID: 812 1147 0751
Passcode: ICMCS123
About Condensed Matter seminars
This is a weekly series of informal talks given primarily by members of the institute of condensed matter and complex systems, but is also open to members of other groups and external visitors. The aim of the series is to promote discussion and learning of various topics at a level suitable to the broad background of the group. Everyone is welcome to attend..