In this article, I briefly describe the types of eicosanoids and steroid hormones and how they carry messages to cells and tissues, respectively. Eicosanoids Eicosanoids are bioactive lipid molecules derived from 20-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly arachidonic acid. They play vital roles in cell signaling, especially in inflammation, immunity, and many physiological functions. These are … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe how microorganisms develop drug resistance to a variety of drugs. Drug resistance Drug resistance develops when disease-causing microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, develop the ability to survive exposure to drugs that were once effective in killing them or stopping their growth. This phenomenon undermines the effectiveness … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe how antibiotics inhibit nucleic acid and protein synthesis. Antibiotics The term “antibiotic” describes a metabolic compound produced by microorganisms that can inhibit or destroy other microbes, even in minimal amounts. Vuillemin first introduced the idea of antibiosis in 1898, referring to a phenomenon where one organism eliminates others to … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe how different antibiotics inhibit the cell wall synthesis of microorganisms. Antibiotics Antibiotic refers to metabolic substances produced by a microorganism that, even in small quantities, can inhibit or harm other microbes. Vuillemin, in 1898, introduced the concept of antibiosis, where one organism eliminates others to survive. However, this early … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe triacylglycerols, the fatty acid esters of glycerol. Triacylglycerols store energy and provide insulation. Partial hydrogenation of edible oils creates fatty acids with harmful side effects. Structure and properties of triacylglycerol Triacylglycerols, or triglycerides, fats, or neutral fats, are the simplest lipids derived from fatty acids. They consist of three … Read more >>
In this article, I describe the genome and the complexity within it. Genome and genome annotation The genome contains all the essential information an organism requires for its growth and functioning. It represents the entire collection of genetic material within an organism. A genome sequence comprises a lengthy string of the nucleotides A, G, T, … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe how CRISPR technology inactivates a gene and observes the resulting changes, helping scientists understand the gene’s normal function. Introduction of the CRISPR technology Gene mutation is necessary to understand the function of a gene. Researchers can then examine the effect of genomic alteration on cell growth or function. Introduction … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe how green fluorescent protein helps identify proteins in cells. Protein localization and function Locating a gene product within the cell helps provide significant insight into its function. For instance, a protein found solely in the nucleus is likely to participate in nuclear-specific processes such as transcription, DNA replication, or … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe the various ways of expressing recombinant proteins. Recombinant proteins Proteins can be artificially produced by inserting a gene encoding the desired protein into a host organism. This process is carried out with the help of recombinant DNA technology. This way, the host cells can express and produce large amounts … Read more >>
In this article, I briefly describe how HIV infects its host by using its coreceptors. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), is a severe immunodeficiency caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This syndrome was first recognized because of opportunistic infections in a cluster of individuals in the USA in 1981. This group … Read more >>