EMBL Predoc course

Structural & Computational Biology Module

Fourier transforms are ubiquitous in biological and physical phenomena. Examples and applications can be found in the processing of sound wave signals during hearing, audio compression by the MP3 format, image formation by the retina of the eye or the reconstruction of a macromolecule’s atomic structure from images obtained by scattering of electrons or X-rays. Fourier analysis is a fundamental mathematical tool for the analysis of such signals in which arbitrary periodic functions are expanded into a combination of simple waves.

These lectures are part of the EMBL Predoc course. The Fourier transform module was organized by Carsten Sachse at EMBL and comprises two lectures that introduce the basic principles of Fourier transforms, discuss their properties and illustrate their use in image processing and X-ray crystallography.

Note: The below link to course material are restricted to the lecture and practical dealing with the use of Fourier transforms in X-ray and electron diffraction methods.



Handouts and slides:

  • Fourier transforms in diffraction methods - slides
  • Computer practical: periodic patterns - slides