Looking for alternative crystal forms:
Really close packed crystals are more likely to grow under high
precipitant conditions. This will lead to a compact packing with
extensive crystal and possibly lead to diffraction at high resolution.
The high precipitant region of crystallization space has a much lower
nucleation probability because there is less protein in the supersaturated
state which can support crystal growth. To avoid precipitate, the protein
concentration used for these experiments is substantially lower.
So if you do not have seeds you may have to wait for ever for these crystals
to nucleate.
Can we stimulate nucleation?
This might be possible. Most crystal forms of the same
protein maintain a plane in common, hence epitaxial jumps may be possible.