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Quantitative studies on the energetics of individual λ-DNA molecules in the liquid phase have been carried out under the Fluorescence Video Microscope. Activation energies for self diffusion as well as for the transition from the straight to the random coil configuration have been derived from temperature dependent statistical measurements. The energy involved in self diffusion is found to be associated solely with the characteristics of the solvent whereas the energy barrier governing the transition from the straight to the random coil configuration implies a contribution from the semi flexibility of the molecule under study. |