Resolution: Difference between revisions

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''Resolution'', in structure determinations, is the distance corresponding to the smallest observable feature: if two objects are closer than this distance, they appear as one combined blob rather than two separate objects. High numeric values of resolution, such as 4 Å, mean poor resolution, while low numeric values, such as 1.5 Å, mean good resolution.

''Resolution'', in structure determinations, is the distance corresponding to the smallest observable feature: if two objects are closer than this distance, they appear as one combined blob rather than two separate objects. Resolution is the smallest distance between crystal lattice planes that is resolved in the diffraction pattern. High numeric values of resolution, such as 4 Å, mean poor resolution, while low numeric values, such as 1.5 Å, mean good resolution.

'''2.05 Å''' is the '''median''' resolution for [[X-ray crystallography|X-ray crystallographic]] results in the Protein Data Bank (88,701 on May 15, 2014). For comparison, the van der Waals diameter of a carbon atom is 3.4-3.7 Å<ref name="atomsize">See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_radii_of_the_elements_(data_page) Atomic radii of the elements (Wikipedia)], and [http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Theoretical_Chemistry/Chemical_Bonding/General_Principles/Covalent_Bond_Distance,_Radius_and_van_der_Waals_Radius values from an Inorganic Chemistry textbook].</ref>, and the length of a covalent carbon-carbon bond is 1.5 Å<ref name="atomsize" />.

Resolution: Difference between revisions

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-''Resolution'', in structure determinations, is the distance corresponding to the smallest observable feature: if two objects are closer than this distance, they appear as one combined blob rather than two separate objects. High numeric values of resolution, such as 4 Å, mean poor resolution, while low numeric values, such as 1.5 Å, mean good resolution.
+''Resolution'', in structure determinations, is the distance corresponding to the smallest observable feature: if two objects are closer than this distance, they appear as one combined blob rather than two separate objects. Resolution is the smallest distance between crystal lattice planes that is resolved in the diffraction pattern. High numeric values of resolution, such as 4 Å, mean poor resolution, while low numeric values, such as 1.5 Å, mean good resolution.
 '''2.05 Å''' is the '''median''' resolution for [[X-ray crystallography|X-ray crystallographic]] results in the Protein Data Bank (88,701 on May 15, 2014). For comparison, the van der Waals diameter of a carbon atom is 3.4-3.7 &Aring;<ref name="atomsize">See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_radii_of_the_elements_(data_page) Atomic radii of the elements (Wikipedia)], and [http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Theoretical_Chemistry/Chemical_Bonding/General_Principles/Covalent_Bond_Distance,_Radius_and_van_der_Waals_Radius values from an Inorganic Chemistry textbook].</ref>, and the length of a covalent carbon-carbon bond is 1.5 &Aring;<ref name="atomsize" />.