Returns you to the previous page in a "Chapter". (Previous)
Text which is written in blue and is underlined may be clicked on with the left mouse button. You will be transferred to another page of information or another computer program will start which will be related to the words you clicked. Some pictures are outlined in blue. These, too may be clicked on and may lead to further information, movies, sounds, pictures or computer programs.
If you get lost, you can click the "home" button at the top of the page. This will return you to the first page of "The Molecules of Life". The "back" button returns you to the previous page.
A long bar with triangles at the top and bottom will appear at the side of Netscape when the page is too big to be seen in one go. This is called the "scroll bar". It can be moved by pressing on it with the left mouse button. Keeping the mouse button pressed you can drag it up and down. A similar bar appears at the bottom of Netscape if the picture is too wide. You will need to do this to see the whole of this page!
"The Molecules of Life" also has buttons like these in its pages:
Returns you to the previous page in a "Chapter". (Previous)
Takes you to the next page in a "Chapter". (Next)
Returns you to the next highest level of the text. (Up)
Returns you to the front page of the text. (Front Page)
Only the "Up" and "Front Page" buttons work here.
Movies are shown in a separate tool called "mpeg_player". This will show the movie. The tool then remains on the screen waiting for further instructions. The movie can be played again by clicking with the left mouse button on the word "control" and then on the word "play" which appears below. The tool can be closed by clicking on the word "file" and then on the word exit in the menu. The picture can be doubled in size by clicking once on the word "options" and then on the "double size" option. Re-play the movie by clicking on the word "control" and then on the word "play" which appears in the menu.
If you see this picture it means that there is a link to the
coordinates of the protein, which you can view with
a program called Rasmol.
If you don't already have it, you can fetch it from
here.
You should configure your browser to activate Rasmol as a helper
application for a MIME content type of chemical/x-pdb.
This program allows you to look at the
protein in a variety of ways. You can "grab hold" of the protein and turn
it around on the screen so that you can see it from all view points. The
picture above is like those shown in the "program manager" to the left of the
screen. The titles below the icons relate to the text in this presentation.
If you click quickly twice on these "icons" with the left mouse
button the picture will appear on the screen. Point at the centre
of the picture protein and press the left mouse button. Keep the button pressed
and move the mouse and the protein will move around in the same sense as you
move the mouse.
The words "Display" and "Colours" appear at the top of the screen. If
you click on these words, lists of options will appear allowing you to change
the way the protein appears on the screen. Move down the list and click again
on your chosen display method. We suggest you experiment with these, but
colouring by protein structure reveals helices and strands (purple and yellow)
which are important units of protein structure. Displaying as ribbons
shows how the protein chain is folded up.
If you have any problems using "The Molecules of Life" ask someone to help you.
