RNA folding pathways and their energy barriers can provide useful information about RNA's numerous and diverse functions. The main problem studied in this talk is to determine if a pathway from one structure to another can stay within a given energy barrier. This problem has different versions depending on the type of pathway allowed. My talk will focus on indirect (pathways that allow temporary edges) pathways and pathways that allow repeated edges. We will examine the potential for temporary edges to lower the energy barrier and a proof that in the energy model we used, repeated edges do not reduce the energy barrier in direct pathways.

My talk will also have a short tutorial on making arc diagrams and energy barrier diagrams with MetaPost.