Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Today I happened to hear in a bit more detail about synthetic biology and biohacking. It sounds like a fascinating domain, and I already have a lot of questions to wonder about. One of them, which wasn't specified directly in the documentaries and articles I saw, is what are the greatest achievements of this new technology... in terms of modifying or creating new forms of life? What are the most complex living being created / altered by scientists at this day? Were any entineered species created to any extent? Could any animals be given improvements that evolution didn't offer them, for example? Or can the technology be used to improve a human body beyond what one can hav…

Quite some time ago, I saw a documentary about understanding the brain and its nervous system. At one point it spoke about the struggle of scientists to understand the connections between the millions of nerves located in the brain. They said tracking and pathing them is a difficult task, hence why it's taking long for science to understand how the brain actually works. But it also said something else: That one scientist came up with the idea to turn the process into an online game of sorts. There was supposedly a website anyone could access, where they would be presented with images of brain scans. The person's job is to draw lines across what they see as neurons, in…

Can a localised property of an organism is generalised in bacteremia. kindly suggest..

Cancer prevention - by matching the PH level in food and water to match the human bodies PH? Different acidity levels causing a failure in Nutrients and electrolytes becoming solidified. My apologies, I have just realised there is already a alkaline theory out, sorry, my idea is a bit late.

I know it sounds trivial but i have some problems with calculations for the experiment that I've performed today in the lab. I was supposed to do the bioassay for the lysozyme, using 3 samples: crude, precipitation, dialysis and of course standards. Preparation of satndards: 1mg lysozyme/ml of stock with/ spec activity of 47080 U/mg that needed to be diluted 20 times (I've used a total volume of 500ul, so 25ul in 475 ul of potassiumphosphate buffer) Stand 1: 150 ul of potassiumphosphate buffer 150ul of diluted lysozyme stock then what is enzyme activity in the standard solution (U/ml)? I keep making some mistakes and i'm pretty sure of it

Hello all, I just started working in a genomics lab and we use Sanger sequencing. The sequencing protocol utilizes the BigDye 3.1 Terminator Kit and a BigDye XTerminator for clean-up. I did some online searching but to no avail couldn't really figure out what was going on during the BigDye Terminator reaction. Can anyone tell me what the primary agents are in the buffers and what they do e.g. Taq polymerase and MgCl2 or something of that sort? I'm just curious as to what is actually going on in these steps.. I am also a bit confused as to how chain termination works. Won't ddNTPs prevent DNA elongation?

After cells and other built things fall off a human in a non-dangorus area, do they stay as is? Or does every atom or molocule fly off or move/crumble apart and fly off, if so then how long does that take? And are all cells and other built things do your answer or are there some that stay as is longer? If so how much longer?

I have been doing research on interactions between three membrane proteins in skeletal muscle. .I want to experimentally determine whether the interactions between these proteins are mutually exclusive or can occur simultaneously. Basically, protein a interacts with b, protein a interacts with c, and protein b interacts with c. I want to determine if these are individual heterodimeric interactions, or if a three-way complex can form. Most of what I have done is using whole muscle homogenates or transfected cells. Any ideas are would be helpful. Thanks! PFD

Plant biochemistry examines the molecular mechanisms of plant life. One of the main topics is photosynthesis, which in higher plants takes place mainly in the leaves. Photosynthesis utilizes the energy of the sun to synthesize carbohydrates and amino acids from water, carbon dioxide, nitrate, and sulfate. Biochemistry is mostly important for us.

Would like to generate a short list of the leading marine microbes for oxygen and/or ethylene generating microbes. Aware of the Genus Synechococcus but would like to include other potential candidates. As for ethylene production there is a synthetically produced microbe PCC 6803 whose documentation is found at: http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/content/7/1/33 Have no way of knowing if there is a competing microbe for comparison. PCC 6803 was engineered at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Also seeking guidance on the protocol for using a microbe from a government agency for another purpose. Informed guidance sought.

why sulphosalycilic acid is used for testing the presence of proteins in urine? in heller's test why albumin only is being tested?what is the underlying principle for it being used to detect albumin in urine specifically?

Hey Everyone, Hope I'm posting this in the right place. I have been taking a megadose of vitamin b5 for many years now. I take 10g a day in the form of 20 500mg capsules, spread out over 4 doses. So 5 pills about every 4-5 hours. I'm curious if there is a way to get that same 10g daily dosage without having to take 20 pills a day. Is there any way to make a highly concentrated delivery system, in any form? Thanks and looking forward to any ideas presented. JD

Hi everyone, These two new reviews about PE&P may be useful for those entering the field: Links removed Best wishes!

Hello, Is there anyone who could tell me why is Lambda phage's DNA linear while in the head od the phage, but circularized when inside of the bacteria, that is; why those sticky ends join while inside of the bacteria, but not when in phage's head? Thank you

I work at a pharmaceutical company and Im having trouble identifying a few bacteria. All of the isolates come from a cleanroom so there isn't stuff like anthrax and chlymadia. It's common bacteria found on the skin. I use API Staph strips, Strep strips, 20 NE strips, CHB for rods and 20E strips. Once in awhile i get bacteria that doesnt give results for any of the strips. It seems to be a gram positive rod under the microscope. Should I have other strips in addition to the ones I have listed? Also are there other strips or media that will help identify bacteria that is rod shaped and gram positive?

I remember hearing about organisms that are posited to be immortal. However, is this just a myth or are there organisms which can be considered immortal due to physical changes?

We have modified the current DNA cloning method. Our modified method is especially suitable for the challenging cloning (e.g., blunt-end DNA cloning, single-digested DNA cloning and some challenging double-digested DNA cloning). The modified method is simple and convient. We think it worth a try if you have some trouble during molecular cloning. link removed If it is helpful, please do not forget to cite it in your publications, thank you before hand. Good luck for your work!!!

Hi, I have very little micro experience and would like some advice please! I need to do a growth curve by measuring OD600 at 30min intervals. My bacteria is anaerobic and I usually use the anaerocults in a gas jar to produce an anerobic enviroment. However, as these take 20mins to reach anaerobic conditions I am thinking that this will affect the growth of my bacteria if I am opening the jar every 30mins. I could just do the OD every 60mins but every 30mins would be best. I also could use an anaerobic chamber but I think this is around 18% CO2, while the anaerocults are 5% CO2 (maybe incorrect?!). Would the difference in CO2 have an effect on growth or is it ok once the e…

Hello, I would like to know if anyone know a good antibodies against GLUT2. In fact, I can not obtain a good signal in my western blot because i have many non-specific bands. Anyone has a solution please ? Thanks

A respected scientist says he may have made controversial "acid bath" STAP stem cells--but via strenuous trituration (manipulation with a pipette) and NOT via acid. Other scientists are rushing to try to repeat this--even as two images in the controversial Harvard/Riken paper have been dubbed falsified. The approach is considered important enough that Riken plans to try to repeat the work for a year, despite the falsified images. The cells represent a third kind of pluripotential stem cell. http://www.biosciencetechnology.com/articles/2014/04/scientist-said-he-may-have-made-stap-cells%E2%80%94just-riken-called-fraud

Hello, I'm currently working on the isolation and identification of microorganisms from wooden barrels. I'm just interested in yeasts and bacteria, but I mostly get a very large growth of fungi (mold). Does anyone know what product I can add to my soil (solid and liquid) to prevent the growth of fungi? Greetings

I've been trying to analyze the effects of oxidative damage on RNA, and it seemed like putting hydrogen peroxide in with blood samples would do the trick. Yet, when its extracted and the gels are run, they look essentially identical to the samples without any peroxide. I'm stumped :| does anyone know anything else I could try?

Hi. All I can find is ancidotal evidence concerning the destruction of Lactic Acid Bacteria in milk kefir when blended in a kitchen blender. Supposedly it disturbs the biofilm etc. I was wondering if there exists any scientific evidence regarding this issue that would be worthy of using as a citation. Thank you.

Hi, I need answers to some random questions on an experiment about triparental conjugation - it's hard to find explanations which don't require university education. I'd like to know how the replication of the plasmid works when it is transferred (i know about the rolling-circle-replication and the basic principle, but i couldn't find much about the function of the nic/bom-site and the mobilisation protein) I also need a little more information about the transposition of genes (again, I know the basics) How can Pseudomonas aeruginosa survive without sugar (meaning, how exactly does the metabolising of amino acids work? which ones can it metabolise?) If a fertility…

Hi people out there! I have to prove several serums of mice, if there are any antibodies (in the serum) against some choosed proteins. My question: How does such a screening assay looks like in the best case? Do you have experiences in that or did you maybe something similar? Please help me.. My approach would be to "stick" the proteins onto a nitrocellulose plate, let the serum flow over, wash and stain with a anti-mouse antibody to make those antibodies visible, which are still sticking.