The Autocorrelation Function: The Key To Understanding Your Biological Molecules

Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) is a technique that allows researchers to accurately size their biologic molecules and determine the distribution of particle sizes in a solution. In order to turn scattering information from a system into usable data for decision making, DLS software uses an autocorrelation function (ACF).

The ACF can often seem like a black box for researchers, but understanding how it works and what a good fit looks like is crucial for data analysis.

Both experts and novices can benefit from a review of how the ACF is generated and how to assess data quality. In this video, you will learn:

• What is DLS (a brief overview)
• What DLS information goes into an ACF
• How an ACF is generated
• What the different fit models mean for your samples
• What impact contaminants and poor sample prep can have on your ACF data