The state of the art

Graphical representation of molecular and cellular features is a key form of communication in structural biology in which abstract symbols of an economical and visually appropriate kind, pseudo-color coding, and dynamic animations all play their parts. Accordingly, it should not be surprising that many structural biologists—like traditional biologists before them—are talented artists who also express themselves on “non-scientific” topics. This article illustrates the approaches of and pictures by several practicing scientist-artists—mainly, in this sampling, electron microscopists.