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Self-assembling virus (dodecahedron) — image 1
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Self-assembling virus (dodecahedron)

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Self-assembling dodecahedron, can be used to illustrate self-assembly of icosahedral viruses

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Self-assembling "virus" (dodecahedron). Demonstrates how viruses self-assemble via symmetric interactions of subunits that have favourable interactions with each other. Original model (self_assembling_virus) is adapted from https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2834219. I've remixed this to include markings that demonstrate the 5-fold symmetry of the pentagonal panel (self_assembling_virus_with_5-fold), which should be better for virology teaching.

Prints well with PLA. For assembly, I used 3 mm x 1 mm magnets neodymium magnets with 0.13 kg pulling strength (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00TACKU36). Note that you'll need 120 magnets to complete. I used superglue to fix the magnets - it was easiest as a two-person job, with one person marking the magnet poles with a marker pen and separating the magnets, then the other doing the gluing and insertion (wearing nitrile gloves to avoid gluing their fingers together!).

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