Topic 1. Spatial symmetry, and spatial symmetry groups. |
Know the 230 spatial symmetry groups. Symmorphic and non-symorphic groups: translation operations. Chiral and enantiomeric crystals (associated with protein structures and nucleic acid molecules). Nomenclature, Diagrams, and International Tables. Space group visualizer with free software. |
Topic 2. Physical and optical properties of crystals. |
Relationship between symmetry and magnetic and dielectric properties and optical activity. |
Topic 3. Study of crystals by X-ray diffraction. |
Structural determination of biological macromolecules, organic and inorganic compounds by X-ray crystallography: Basic protein, organic and inorganic compounds crystallization techniques; Main methods to solve the phase problem: multiple isomorphic replacement, multiple anomalous diffraction and molecular replacement; Refinement and validation of the models. |