Essays on Crystallography

1. a. The pKa value of an amino acid is an indication of how strong or weak an amino acid is, based on the said acid’s dissociation constant. An amino acid that has a high pKa value is weaker than on that has a low pka value. Given that an acid’s dissociation constant is Ka, the pKa value is given by the formula: pKa = -log10Ka pH = pKa + log ([A-]/[HA]),It follows that for Cys12, 7.4= 7.2 + log([Cys-]/[HCys]) 7.4-7.2 = log([Cys-]/[HCys]) 0.2 = log([Cys-]/[HCys]) 100.2= Cys-/HCys Therefore, Cys-/HCys = 10-4Similarly, ...

Major Achievements in Biology

Researchers and scientists are always intrigued by biological processes and activities, and strive to utilize them for benefit of mankind. Antibiotics, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines and several therapeutic agents, high yielding as well as disease tolerant plants and animals are all results of extensive research in the fields of cell and molecular biology, immunology, biotechnology and genetic engineering. Treatment to several diseases, even genetic disorders are available today only due to breakthrough discoveries in biology. Three such important discoveries are revelation of structure of ribosomes through X-ray crystallography, identification of tumor specific antigens (TSA) expressed on the surface of cancer ...

The Race for the Double Helix (1987)

Synopsis; This is yet another star from Jim Watson (Jeff Goldblum) who makes a joint force with some of his English counterparts, Francis Crick (Tim Pigott-Smith) in their determination to unlocking the double-helix structure of the DNA.

Review

James Watson James Watson is depicted as a determined character in the movie. In the first instance, he is on a move for an Italian conference. Joined is by Maurice Wilkins they are determined to seek or better techniques on X-ray and Crystallography that are of great development only in England. He also comes out ...

Introduction

Radiation detectors are widely applied in numerous fields for early detection and mitigation of radiation effects within premises. The advantages associated with the application of radiation detectors are tremendous not only in the medical field but also other professional fields where radiation detectors are employed. Owing to these positive benefits of radiation detectors, their application for various functions across different fields has grown at an alarming rate ever since their inception. Radiation detectors come in numerous types and shapes (Owens and Peacock, 2004). Nuclear medicine is notorious for the application of radiation detectors as compared to other professional fields. ...

The discovery of DNA as the genetic material was one of the landmark events in the field of biology. By confirming DNA as the genetic material scientists made a huge leap that has advanced the cause of medical science to a great degree. While discussing the discovery of DNA as the genetic material, we mostly speak of Friedrich Miescher (1871), the man who discovered DNA. After the discovery of DNA a significant number of studies were conducted that proved DNA as the genetic material. Then Griffith, (1928) conducted studies on bacterial transformation and indicated that genetic information can be transferred from one ...

Biology

The electron microscope has proven to be invaluable in the study of proteins and has enhanced our understanding of cellular biology. The importance to understanding disease and trauma to the body as well as treatments cannot be overstated. Genetic research such as studies of the mechanisms of protein folding is better understood due to electron microscopy. The image of a sample such as a slice of a fibril or a “newly synthesized chain of amino acids” (Dobson, 2003, p. 884) created by an electronic beam. The Transmitting Electron Microscope (TEM) transmits the electron beam through a sample whereas the SEM scans the surface ...

It was not until 1953 that the biological science was better understood. Earlier on scientists had tried so much to definite the structure of nucleic acid. With the help of information by other scientists Watson and Crick were able to discover that Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA exists in the shape of a three dimensional double helix. From late 19th there were various researches to determine the components of the molecule. DNA was first discovered in 1869 by a Swiss physiological chemist Friedrich Miescher, he was able to locate nucleon in the nuclei of white blood cells. The name Nuclein ...