The systematic study of kinematics can be traced to the writings of the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Romans and Persians as far back as 500 B.C. For many centuries kinematics (along with geometry) was regarded as one of the basic sciences that explained observed physical phenomena and was used to engineer machines. Though it may seem unlikely, kinematics (in particular, robot kinematics) can significantly contribute to our understanding of biological systems and their functions at the microscopic level and to the engineering of new diagnostic tools, treatments, and drugs for a variety of diseases. Given the vast body of knowledge in theoretical, applied, and analytical kinematics and robotics, the conspicuous absence of the kinematics community from current molecular science research relating to the prediction of protein folding, protein docking, protein engineering, and drug design seems puzzling. In this paper, we will discuss the potential contributions of kinematics to some current challenges in biotechnology.
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January 2004
Technical Papers
From Mechanisms and Robotics to Protein Conformation and Drug Design
Kazem Kazerounian, Professor, Fellow ASME
Kazem Kazerounian, Professor, Fellow ASME
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
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Kazem Kazerounian, Professor, Fellow ASME
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
Contributed by the Mechanisms and Robotics Committee for publication in the JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL DESIGN. Manuscript received August 2002; revised June 2003. Associate Editor: C. Mauroidis.
J. Mech. Des. Jan 2004, 126(1): 40-45 (6 pages)
Published Online: March 11, 2004
Article history
Received:
August 1, 2002
Revised:
June 1, 2003
Online:
March 11, 2004
Citation
Kazerounian, K. (March 11, 2004). "From Mechanisms and Robotics to Protein Conformation and Drug Design ." ASME. J. Mech. Des. January 2004; 126(1): 40–45. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1644554
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