Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Ribbon theory

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Ribbon theory is a strand of mathematics within topology that has seen particular application as regards DNA.

Concepts

  • Link is the integer number of turns of the ribbon around its axis;
  • Twist is the rate of rotation of the ribbon around its axis;
  • Writhe is a measure of non-planarity of the ribbon's axis curve.

    • Work by Călugăreanu, White and Brock Fuller led to the Călugăreanu–White–Fuller theorem that Link = Writhe + Twist.

    References

    Ribbon theory Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA