The Knot Theory of DNA

Dr. Nancy Wrinkle

Department of Mathematics

Northeastern Illinois University

In this talk, I will introduce and explore the connection between the subfield of topology called knot theory and the field of molecular biology, and discuss how advances in pure mathematics (in the form of certain knot invariants) have been used to approach biological questions. I will also describe how my current research fits into this area, in a level of detail determined by how much time is left. No previous molecular biology background is assumed, and the only mathematical background needed is calculus.