UMass is home to leading technology in molecular visualization. Don't just watch — play with molecules in 3D! Examine DNA and other molecules from any angle, zoom in or out, spin, change the display. You decide. And, at UMass you can learn to make your own molecular movies (see below).

To get started on your molecular adventure:

Visit the molecular visualization site MolviZ.Org to learn how to install software for viewing molecules in 3D. Here's a brief description of how it works:

A mini-program called Chime enables you to view molecules in 3D in certain browsers. For the greatest versatility, download the old (very old!) browser, Netscape 4.7 and install Chime following the instructions at MolviZ.org.

Once you have completed the installation and tested your browser, start with a basic DNA tutorial, such as Andrew Carter's Exploring DNA Structure, or Eric Martz's DNA Tutorial, or the MyDNA Presentation (good for projecting DNA structure in a basic talk). If you want more detail, see Exploring DNA . For more molecules, including proteins, visit the Molecules in Motion collection of tutorials, return to MolviZ.Org, or, for a guide to many, many different interactive molecules on the web, visit The World Index of Molecular Visualization Resources. For in-depth molecular explorations, use Protein Explorer. (You can explore DNA with it too.)

To learn more about Chime, or get help:

Visit the help pages at MolviZ.Org or read our detailed Chime installation instructions. If you are interested in making your own molecular movies, visit the Molecular Visualization Lab at UMass.