Spinning 3-D DNA molecule in After Effects

[Blake Porter]

No I don’t. … but I could make one in Lightwave for you.

[Rob Webster]

Try this:

Create a colored solid the size of your comp, and apply the CC BAll Action effect, found under “Simulation” in your list of effects. Plug in these numbers for the effect, and then tweak from there. For Scatter, enter 13. Make the rotation axis the Y axis. Make the twist property the Y axis. Set the twist angle to 1 X 0.0. Set the grid spacing to 18 and the ball size to 22. To get your molecule to spin, just animate the rotation (found right below the Roation Axis option).

It’s not really a double helix with the cross bars found in a true DNA strand, but it’s the look. This may at least give you a starting point to begin experimenting.

-Rob

[Sam Moulton]

a long time ago Brian Maffit had a tutorial about creating a spiral helix. I think it was on the total training site. you might try a google search

[Mike Smith]

There is a free, open-source science-oriented molecular visualisation tool called RASMOL, which is well suited to rendering (differing styles of representation of) molecules including DNA molecules in 3D, and which will allow you to animate these. It may take you a few hours to get to grips with, but the results can be good – I’ve used this in high in work for a pharmaceutical multinational.

If the DNA fragment you want is generic – any bit will do – that’s great: if you need specific genes, there are ways to find DNA sequences in public databases and load those into RASMOL – but I had the drug company researchers to help out with that.

Checking the links today, I see that there’s a later spin-off called CHIME that might be worth a look too.
https://www.umass.edu/microbio/rasmol/

[Steve Roberts]

Brian’s tut was called “what the helix going on?”. It’s still out there somewhere, though it does use text. I think it can be altered.

[David Bogie]

It is not easy but it’s not impossible to create a double helix using Sphere or Cylinder.
Rob’s suggestion to use Ball Action is very cool. It can actually be done.

The issue is your need for realism. If you need accuracy, you need a 3d artist who understands the medicine.

bogiesan

This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”

[Rjf E:613]

Yeah good call on the CC Ball Action idea for the helix (though as was stated, it’s not the most realistic version possible). The tutorial from Brian Maffit that people are referring to… is it the one found on the bottom right-hand side of this website:

https://www.totaltraining.com/bios/brianmaffitt.asp

??

He uses the plug-in to create a helix.. but only for about 3 seconds or so. Should be a good head-start for those who need it.

rjf