Perspectives on Structural Molecular Biology Visualization: From Past to Present

Visualization has been a key technology in the progress of structural molecular biology for as long as the field has existed. This perspective describes the nature of the visualization process in structural studies, how it has evolved over the years, and its relationship to the changes in technology that have supported and driven it. It focuses on how technical advances have changed the way we look at and interact with molecular structure, and how structural biology has fostered and challenged that technology. [Display omitted] •Structural molecular biology visualization has evolved from physical models of the earliest protein structures to immersive interaction of mesoscale models of cellular environments.•Visualization has been a major driver in advancing the science of structural molecular biology.•Structural molecular biology continues to challenge the capabilities of visualization technology.