This essay will discuss the issue on increased pressure being placed up on ecosystems which is resulting 'in a significant loss of biodiversity'.
Juhie Nazeer 'Ecosystems are coming under more pressure now than at any other time during Earth's History resulting in a significant loss of biodiversity' (W137787321) This essay will discuss the issue on increased pressure being placed up on ecosystems which is resulting 'in a significant loss of biodiversity'. The term Ecosystem is used to describe a 'community of' organisms that 'live, feed reproduce and interact in the same environment' (what is an ecosystem). The term Biodiversity on the hand describes the number of living organisms found "in a given area" (B.Bush, 1997, p. 21). A large number of ecosystems are now under more pressure than at any other point in the Earth's history. Major causes of this all leads to human influence on the environment. A number of human activities have increased global warming and climate change and are affecting many ecosystems across the world (The Capture and Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide). One of the main reasons of Global Warming is due to the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas (B.Bush, 1997, p. 320). The burning of these fossil fuels result in the release of a number of pollutants, such as Carbon dioxide, methane and ozone which increases 'global temperatures' (B.Bush, 1997, p. 320). A number of data were collected between a given period of time which indicates an increase in global temperatures
Discuss the stereochemistry of monosaccharides, nucleotides and amino acids
Discuss the stereochemistry of monosaccharides, nucleotides and amino acids. How does the stereochemistry of these building blocks affect the structures of the polymers that they form? Stereoisomers[a] have the same displayed formula but a different arrangement of atoms in space. Enantiomers rotate plane polarised light in opposite ways – each is known as either the D or L form (although this naming originally indicated which way the light was rotated, the fact that this cannot be predicted from atomic structure means that we instead compare the molecule to a similar known one – for example all monosaccharides and amino acids are named based on the structure of glyceraldehyde). The two enantiomers are non-superimposable mirror images of each other - they have a chiral centre (often a carbon atom with four different groups of atoms covalently bonded to it[b]). Monosaccharides[c] Monosaccharides (sugars) are the monomers of polysaccharides (carbohydrates), linked by O-glycosidic bonds which are formed from condensation reactions between the monosaccharides. Monosaccharides have a chiral centre [d]– the carbon one from the end of the chain furthest from the carbonyl group[e]. By convention, the arrangement of atoms in space around this carbon is used to dictate whether the monosaccharide is in its D or L form – although many of the other carbons in the chain are also
Investigation of the effect of increasing amount of lead nitrate on hydrolysis of starch was done using the enzyme amylase
The Effect of Inhibitors on the activity of enzymes Investigation of the effect of increasing amount of lead nitrate on hydrolysis of starch was done using the enzyme amylase. Hypothesis: . A non competitive inhibitor binds to a part of the enzyme away from the active site. 2. The shape of the enzyme is changed, thus changing the shape of the active site. 3. No enzyme- substrate complexes can be formed. Hence no products can be produced. 4. Increasing the amount of substrate does not overcome the effect of this type of inhibitor. 5. Reaction rate will fall as the concentration of inhibitors rises. Table 1: Variables Selected for this Experiment Variables Independent Variable Different concentration of lead nitrate Dependent Variable Transmission of light/arbitrary unit Control Variables Temperature, same amount of amylase, same amount of pH solution, same amount of lead nitrate Materials and Methods: The apparatus and materials required for this investigation are listed below: . 6 boiling tubes 2. 6 test tubes 3. Test tube rack 4. Labels/markers pen 5. 1% starch solution –allow 100 cm3 per repeat 6. Amylase solution 1%-allow 50 cm3 per repeat 7. Iodine solution- allow 10 cm3 per repeat 8. Distilled water -50 cm3 per repeat 9. 10 cm3 measuring cylinder 0. Stopwatch 1. Colorimeter cuvettes 2. Thermostatically controlled
Hypothesis-based Science. An example of hypothesis-based science given in the textbook is that of the Eastern Coral and Scarlet King snakes
Hypothesis-based Science A hypothesis is a proposed explanation or answer to a problem or question. One stipulation for a good hypothesis is that it must be testable. Science demands for actual data and facts to be used when testing a hypothesis. If no hard data or facts can be provided, the hypothesis exists outside of science and it is in the realm of faith, the paranormal or other things that can be neither proven nor disproven. Furthermore, if a hypothesis is to be tested, a hypothesis is only good until it is proven false; it must stand strong against all properly conducted tests, experiments or endeavors. Hypothesis-based science is science that is conducted by first making some observations. Next, the scientists make a hypothesis as an answer to a question or problem posed by the observations. From this hypothesis, a deduction or prediction is made on something else. This hypothesis can now be tested. This deduction must be proven as true if the hypothesis to also be portrayed as truth. An example of hypothesis-based science given in the textbook is that of the Eastern Coral and Scarlet King snakes. Two biologists and their student designed an experiment that was created to test the hypothesis that mimicry helps organisms avoid predation. The Easter Coral snake is poisonous and it exhibits a colorful pattern that helps it avoid predation in certain parts
Insulin activity on components of its signalling pathway and the effect of Ca2+ on these components
Biol301 - Insulin activity on components of its signalling pathway and the effect of Ca2+ on these components Abstract Insulin is a substrate which is involved in a signalling pathway concerned with blood glucose levels along with IR, IRS1 and PI-3 kinase. The activity of PI-3 kinase is affected by the influx of Ca2+ as was demonstrated by the addition of Ca2+ channel inhibitors to hepatocytes where PI-3 kinase activity dropped. As no effect to the phosphorylation of IR and IRS1 (insulin receptors and substrates) it was determined that the influx Ca2+ has a specific role in the pathway, ie only where PI-3 kinase is involved, in the latter stages of the pathway. Introduction The aim of this paper is to look at the effect of insulin, insulin receptors (IR), insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) and phosphatidyinositol-3 kinase (PI-3 kinase) on rat hepatocytes. Insulin is a peptide hormone which is secreted by ß-cells which are found in the islets of langerhans and is secreted as a response to rising blood glucose levels. It is part of a complex signalling pathway which involves a large number of molecule-molecule complexes and is the stimulus of many different functions such as glycogenesis, glucose transport and the transcription of genes. IR, IRS1 and PI-3 kinase are also key components in the signalling pathway. IR is a diametric tyrosine kinase which is composed of α
Translocation of soluble products of photosynthesis occurs in the part of the vascular tissue known as the phloem.
Transport system in a plant is concerned with the movement of materials from source to sinks. According to Lacher .W 1985, a source is a region of a plant, which is manufactures sugars during photosynthesis and supplies materials of any kind to the transport system (e.g leaves) and a sink as a region where the sugars and minerals are being removed or lost from the system to be used up or stored (for example the root and production of fruit). Transport of soluble products of photosynthesis is called translocation. Translocation of soluble products of photosynthesis occurs in the part of the vascular tissue known as the phloem. The phloem is the principle food conducting tissue associated with xylem in the vascular system. The basic components of phloem are sieve elements, companion cells and phloem parenchyma and phloem fibres. It is placed outside the cambium of the vascular bundle (www./http://infotrac.thomsonlearning.com). It is well known that soluble products of photosynthesis formed in the photosynthetic tissue, enter the sieve tubes by active transport. The movement of materials once they are in the sieve tubes is still under debate as to which and what is the driving force. Although sugars and amino acids tend to move along concentration gradients the speed at which they travel is too fast to be explained simply by diffusion. There presently four proposals of
Optimization of DNA Extraction from Medically and Environmentally important Fungi for Polymerase Chain Reaction
Qualification BTEC Higher National Diploma in Biomedical Science Level 5 Module Name Project Module Number Module 6 Title of practical Optimization of DNA extraction from medically and environmentally important fungi for polymerase chain reaction Name of Candidate Thevaraja Nirojith Optimization of DNA Extraction from Medically and Environmentally important Fungi for Polymerase Chain Reaction Investigator:Mr.ThevarajaNirojith Principle supervisors - Prof. R .S. Dassanayake Dr. O. V. D. J. Weerasena Co-supervisor – Mr. Mohan Geekiyanage Durdans Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory Durdans Hospital, 3, Alfred Place, Colombo 03. Declaration: I ………………………………………………. confirm that I have read and understood the Institute regulations concerning plagiarism and that the work contained within this project report is my own work within the meaning of the regulations. Signature: Date: Acknowledgment My sincere thanks to Prof. R. S. Dassanayake, Dr. O. V. D. J. Weerasena, (ceygenbiotecdurdans hospital) for granting me a place to do my research. My thanks to Mr. MohanGeekiyanage, Miss. Pushpamali Silva they helped in each and every practical. Finally my thanks to Dr.Sajani( lecture of BMS), Mr. NisamRasak ( Director of BMS), for helping me in finding a research project. Abstract Fungi are eukaryotes that have cell walls
Tumour markers and their role in Cancer diagnostics
Page | ________________ ________________ Tumour markers and their role in Cancer diagnostics Amra Iuoop BIO 01/181010 HND Biomedical sciences BMS 30 June 2012 Cancer, or a neoplasm, is best defined by the British oncologist Willis (Robbins, 2010), “A neoplasm is an abnormal mass of tissue, the growth of which exceeds and is uncoordinated with that of the normal tissues and persists in the same manner after cessation of the stimuli which evoked the change”. Tumour markers, also called serum markers or biomarkers, are metabolized molecular products that are secreted by neoplastic tissue and biochemically processed in cells or body fluids (Cortez, 2011). They are secreted by normal cells as well as by cancer cells; nevertheless the quantity is usually quite high in cancerous conditions. Consequently, the presence of a malignant tumour can be identified more or less by the detection of a specific tumour marker. Tumour markers are reckoned to be useful in the following (Sharma, 2009): Screening: Identification of seemingly healthy people who perhaps have a high risk of developing cancer. Diagnosis: Identification of a disease on the knowledge extent of clinical findings and laboratory tests. Staging and treatment planning. Planning of the treatment course after identification of the cancer’s stage. Monitoring: Determination of the cancer’s response to
Mammalian cell structure
DESCRIBE THE STRUCTURAL COMPARTMENTATION OF MAMMALIAN CELLS AND THE DIFFERING FUNCTIONS OF THESE COMPARTMENTS In this essay I would like to talk about the compartmentalisation of the cell and some important processes happen within the cell that requires the corporation of different organelles. Eukaryotic cells (from the Greek meaning truly nuclear) can be easily distinguished through a membrane-bound nucleus. Mammalian cells are one of the two types of eukaryotic cells, in which contains many internal membrane bounded structures called organelles, they are separated into different groups in order to increase their efficiency at bringing out particular function, and this is called compartmentalization, however there is processes that requires different organelles working together in order to take place, such as respiration (involves the cytoplasm and mitochondria) and Protein Synthesis (Nucleus, Ribosomes). Mammalian cells are different to Plant cells (which are also eukaryotic), they do not have a cellulose cell wall, and they are bounded by only plasma membrane, so they are sensitive to Osmotic lysis (the bursting or rupturing of the plasma membrane due to osmotic movement of water into the cell when the cell is in a hypotonic environment. The command centre of the cell, usually the largest is the nucleus; it contains the DNA information (chromosomes) of the cell and
Designer Babies and the eradication of genetic disease
635847 PM-200 Designer babies and the eradication of genetic disease The term ‘designer baby’ was coined to compare it with designer clothing. This expression is meant to signify the improper use of the techniques that this process involved, an improper use of reprogenetics to tailor a baby’s genetic make-up to the parent’s specifications. The baby has its genome artificially selected using common genetic techniques to ensure the activation or inactivation of certain genes. This practice is then coupled with in vitro fertilisation to ensure the embryo progresses to a foetus. The first successful case to create a designer baby was carried out by Handyside et al. (1990) in 1989, although the results were not published until 1990. The experiment followed two couples who were at high risk of passing on two diseases; X-linked mental retardation and adrenoleukodystrophy. After using Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS), many oocytes were gathered and testing could begin. After In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), a biopsy of one of the cells was taken at the 6-8 cell stage. Also, as only sexing the embryo would ensure that the X-linked diseases were not passed on; DNA amplification by the Polymerase Chain Reaction of a Y-chromosome specific repeat sequence was used. This allowed only the female embryos to be selected and implanted into the potential mothers.
