Helical symmetry

Helical symmetry is a pattern where an object repeats itself through a combination of rotation and translation along a specific axis, much like a corkscrew or spiral staircase. Imagine turning a screw into a piece of wood: as it rotates, it also moves forward, creating a continuous spiral. In biological structures like some proteins, this symmetry means that each part is rotated and shifted along the length, producing a regular, repeating pattern. This concept helps scientists understand and model structures that have a consistent, screw-like arrangement in three-dimensional space.