(August, 2003) Although the structure of DNA is the same throughout all species of plants, animals and microorganisms, each individual organism looks different. This is due to the order in which DNA base pairs are sequenced. Not only does this order make you a human rather than a dog or a daffodil, it also makes each person unique. Sequences of DNA differ from person to person, but every cell within the same person contains the same sequence of DNA. So, your hair, blood, skin and all of the other cells in your body are exactly the same at the molecular…
The Science Creative Quarterly
From textbook
RESTRICTION ENDONUCLEASES: MOLECULAR SCISSORS FOR SPECIFICALLY CUTTING DNA
(August 2003) Today, in the age of molecular biology, the study of an organism’s genome (its complete DNA) is a central component driving our understanding of biology. When scientists first considered studying genomes they were faced with a problem: how to reproducibly cut a genome’s DNA into fragments that were small enough to handle? It was a significant problem. Genomes are composed of large DNA chunks on the order of millions of units, while a scientist could reasonable only handle pieces of DNA a few thousand units long. A discrepancy far too large to bridge, thus a method for reproducibly…
MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS FROM RHODOPHERAX FERRIREDUCENS
Novel microbial fuel cells. A recently isolated microorganism has been reported to have a remarkable potential for electricity generation in microbial fuel cells. Rhodoferax ferrireducens, an iron-reducing microorganism, was isolated from subsurface sediments in Oyster Bay, Virginia, USA. Microbial fuel cells composed of this microorganism exceed the performance of previously described microbial fuel cells and even show some clear advantages over existing transition metal-catalyzed fuel cells. Microbial Fuel Cells Before developing the concept of microbial fuel cells, it may be useful to recall the basic concepts of the conversion of chemical energy into electricity. A battery converts chemical energy into…
DOLPHINS SHOW SOME CULTURE
See a dolphin swimming through the water and you’re not just looking at a sleek and playful marine creature, you’re also seeing an animal with culture. Indeed, dolphin culture has recently been spotted off the coast of Australia, says new research from a group of international marine biologists studying bottlenose dolphins. However, this dolphin culture isn’t fancy cocktail parties, visits to art galleries, or listening to contemporary jazz. It’s wearing sea sponges. This use of sea sponges is first description of potential culture—a skill or tradition that is passed down without the involvement of genetics—in a marine mammal and places…
THE CELL CYCLE: A UNIVERSAL CELLULAR DIVISION PROGRAM
(August 2003) In the 17th century, Robert Hooke peered through a microscope at a slice of cork and discovered that it was composed of cells1. Centuries later, Rudolf Virchow set forth the cell theory1, in which he proposed that the cell was the basic unit of all living organisms. We now know that this theory is true; cells make up all living things, whether they are plants, animals, or microorganisms. This realization produces a reflective concept on the continuity of life. There is only one way to make more cells—by the division of those that already exist. All animals come…
THE YEAST TWO-HYBRID ASSAY: AN EXERCISE IN EXPERIMENTAL ELOQUENCE
(August, 2003) Once upon a time, it was believed that proteins were isolated entities, floating in the cytosol and, for the most part, acting independently of surrounding proteins. Proteins were thought to diffuse freely, and reactions occurred as a result of proteins A and B randomly colliding with one another. Today we know this picture to be far too simplistic to account for the complex processes that all coalesce to become ‘life’. Instead, the majority of cellular phenomena are carried out by protein ‘machines’, or aggregates of ten or more proteins [1]. These protein-protein interactions are critical to all cellular…
HOLLYWOOD VS. SCIENCE: HOW FAR ARE WE FROM INTERSTELLAR TRAVEL?
Virtually all Hollywood science fiction – from Star Trek to Total Recall to the Alien franchise – agrees on one basic point: sometime in the near future, humanity will soup up its spaceships, stock them with silver jumpsuits, and get itself beyond the confines of our solar system. So, in no time at all, humanity will reach other worlds, says Hollywood. We may meet new species, and someday, God willing, we’ll all get the chance to have aliens hatch out of us at breakfast. To many of us, this vision is just a matter of time. After all, it’s been…
STEM CELL RESEARCH AND THERAPY: HOW CLOSE ARE WE, REALLY?
“Stem cells isolated from adult breast tissue” – CTV.ca, Jan 5 2006 “California ‘backs’ stem cell move” – BBC, Nov 3 2005 “Two Studies Bolster Stem Cells’ Use in Fighting Disease” – Washington Post, Sept 27 2005 “Discredited Stem Cell Scientist Apologizes in South Korea” – New York Times, Jan 12 2006 Almost every other day we hear or read something related to stem cell research, may it be scientific, political, or economical, from news reports or newspapers. It seems that stem cell research has become an extremely popular field of study – and not without good cause. First of…
CAN YOU SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TRANSGENIC TREES?
Does the idea of genetically modified (GM) trees stir up images of Ents from The Lord of the Rings? Do you find yourself wondering if there are transgenic trees planted in your local forest? If someone were to ask how you feel about planting GM trees in a plantation forest, what would you say? Okay, let me back up a few steps. This article is about tree biotechnology in Canada. In order to continue reading this article you need to know a few things about biotechnology. DON’T STOP READING. If you already do know, feel free to skip this paragraph.…