I review single-molecule experiments (SMEs) in biological physics. Recent technological
developments have provided the tools to design and build scientific instruments of high …

The evolution of RNA sequence needs to satisfy three requirements: folding, structure, and
function. Studies on folding during transcription are related directly to folding in the cell …

Nucleic acid hairpins provide a powerful model system for probing the formation of
secondary structure. We report a systematic study of the kinetics and thermodynamics of the …

A hallmark feature of DNA replication is the coordination between the continuous
polymerization of nucleotides on the leading strand and the discontinuous synthesis of DNA …

The kinetics and mechanisms of transcription are now being investigated by a repertoire of
single-molecule techniques, including optical and magnetic tweezers, high-sensitivity …

Optical traps are commonly constructed with high-numerical-aperture objectives. Oil-
immersion objectives suffer from spherical aberrations when used for imaging in aqueous …

Displacements of optically trapped particles are often recorded using back-focal-plane
interferometry. In order to calibrate the detector signals to displacements of the trapped …

The tethered particle motion (TPM) allows the direct detection of activity of a variety of
biomolecules at the single molecule level. First pioneered for RNA polymerase, it has …

Force and torque, stress and strain or work are examples of mechanical and elastic actions
which are intimately linked to chemical reactions in the cell. Optical tweezers are a light …

Thematic aspects of chemical stereodynamics are discussed that offer much scope for
further development. Particularly emphasized are opportunities to exploit angular …