Statistical mechanics of biopolymers

Abstract

Polymers are long chain molecules consisting of a large number of units newlinecalled monomers, which are held together by covalent bonds. A monomer newlineitself can be anything from a simple molecule consisting of a few atoms to a newlinelarge and complex molecule. These repeating units (monomers) in a chain newlinemay be identical or different. A polymer formed by same type of monomers newlineis called a homopolymer, whereas, a polymer formed by two or more than newlinetwo kinds of monomers is called a heteropolymer. Polymers from living newlineorganisms are known as biopolymers, which vary in their size, shape and newlinefunction. Proteins, nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) etc. are some of the examples newlineof biopolymers, which are made up of different types of monomers. In DNA newlineand RNA, the constituent monomers are nucleotides, newline