Animated Virtual Trading Cards That Show Off the Fascinating Molecular Structure of Individual Viruses

Chlorella

Eleanor Lutz, the self-described designer with a molecular biology degree, has come up with another brilliantly creative idea. For this project she used molecular 3D modeling to create Virus Trading Cards, virtual 3D animated cards that show off the complex, symmetrical and fascinating molecular structure of viruses.

This week I made a set of virus trading cards! Viruses are surprisingly symmetrical, and I love them because they remind me of a biological version of snowflakes. Each trading card shows you the structure of the viral capsid – the protein shell protecting the genetic material inside a virus.

Dengue

Adenovirus

HPV

images via Tabletop Whale

via Amit Gupta

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.