Loading control refers to a method used in various biological and biochemical experiments, particularly in the context of Western blotting, quantitative PCR, and other assays, to ensure that the amount of sample loaded onto a gel or a plate is consistent and appropriate for accurate comparisons and results. In Western blotting, for example, a loading control is a protein that is expressed at relatively constant levels in the samples being analyzed.
Micrococcal nuclease, also known as MCN or MNase, is an enzyme that is classified as a type of nuclease. It is produced by the bacteria *Staphylococcus aureus*. This enzyme is primarily known for its ability to cleave the phosphodiester bonds in nucleic acids, thereby breaking down DNA and RNA into smaller fragments.
A paired-end tag (PET) is a feature used in DNA sequencing, particularly in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. Paired-end sequencing involves reading from both ends of a DNA fragment, producing two reads (tags) from each fragment that are then used to generate data for genomic analysis.
The methylcitrate cycle is a biochemical pathway that plays a role in the metabolism of certain amino acids, particularly in some microorganisms and specific mammalian tissues. It is particularly important in the breakdown of odd-chain fatty acids and certain branched-chain amino acids, such as isoleucine, which are catabolized into propionyl-CoA.
In cell biology, the "midbody" is a structure that forms during the later stages of cell division, specifically during cytokinesis, which is the process that divides the cytoplasm of a parental cell into two daughter cells. The midbody is formed from the remnants of the spindle apparatus and consists of a bundle of microtubules and associated proteins. It acts as a physical connection between the two daughter cells as they are separating.
The term "missense mRNA" generally refers to messenger RNA (mRNA) that carries a sequence with a missense mutation. A missense mutation is a specific type of genetic mutation where a single nucleotide change in the DNA sequence results in the substitution of one amino acid for another in the protein that is produced. This occurs during transcription when DNA is converted into mRNA, which is then translated into a protein.
Molecular phenotyping is a process that involves the characterization of biological molecules in order to understand the phenotypic expression of organisms at a molecular level. This approach combines aspects of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and transcriptomics to provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular features associated with specific phenotypes, such as disease states, developmental stages, or responses to environmental changes.
Molecular ecology is a field of study that combines the principles of ecology and molecular biology to understand the relationships between organisms and their environments at a molecular level. It typically involves the use of molecular techniques to examine genetic variation, gene flow, population structure, and evolutionary processes among populations and species. Key areas of focus in molecular ecology include: 1. **Genetic Diversity**: Assessing genetic variation within and between populations to understand how diversity influences population dynamics, survival, and adaptability.
Organotrophs are organisms that obtain their energy and carbon by oxidizing organic compounds. This term is often used in the context of microbial ecology and metabolism. Organotrophs can be found in various environments, and they play a crucial role in the cycling of nutrients within ecosystems.
Partial cloning refers to the technique of creating a copy of a dataset or a database where only a subset of the original data is replicated or cloned. This method is typically used to manage data more efficiently, streamline testing and development processes, or reduce storage costs by including only relevant data for specific applications or analyses.
A nucleic acid sequence is a series of nucleotides, which are the basic building blocks of nucleic acids like DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). Each nucleotide consists of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The sequence of these nucleotides determines the genetic information carried by the nucleic acid.
Rare-cutter enzymes, also known as rare-cutting restriction enzymes or rare-cutting endonucleases, are a type of restriction enzyme that recognize specific DNA sequences and cut the DNA at sites that are relatively spaced apart from each other. Unlike common restriction enzymes that typically generate blunt or sticky ends by cutting within or near the recognition site, rare-cutters usually leave longer uncut DNA sequences between their cut sites.
Retrotransposons are a type of genetic element found within the genomes of many organisms, including plants, animals, and fungi. They are a subclass of transposable elements, which are sequences of DNA that can change their position within the genome. Retrotransposons replicate and insert themselves into new locations in the genome through a reverse transcription process. Here’s how retrotransposons work: 1. **Transcription**: Retrotransposons are first transcribed into RNA.
A polyclonal B cell response refers to the activation and proliferation of multiple B cell clones in response to an antigen. Unlike a monoclonal response, where a single B cell clone produces identical antibodies against a specific epitope, a polyclonal response involves a diverse array of B cells that recognize various epitopes on the same or different antigens.
Primer walking is a technique used in molecular biology, particularly in the context of DNA sequencing and the analysis of specific DNA regions. It involves designing and synthesizing a series of overlapping primers that anneal to a template DNA strand. This method allows for the sequential amplification of DNA segments using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or similar techniques, facilitating the generation of longer contiguous reads of DNA.
Propidium monoazide (PMA) is a chemical compound commonly used in molecular biology, particularly in the field of microbiology and genetics. It is a DNA-binding dye that is selectively permeable to dead or damaged cells. The main application of PMA is in the context of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques, specifically in the PMA-PCR method.
RAN translation refers to the process of translating Radio Access Network (RAN) protocols and functionalities to enable interoperability between different network elements and technologies. This process is particularly important in telecommunications, especially as networks evolve and integrate various technologies, such as 4G/LTE, 5G, and legacy systems.
Reverse transcriptase is an enzyme that catalyzes the transcription of RNA into DNA. It is primarily associated with retroviruses, such as HIV, where it plays a crucial role in the viral life cycle. When a retrovirus infects a host cell, its RNA genome is reverse transcribed into DNA by reverse transcriptase. This DNA is then integrated into the host cell's genome, allowing the virus to replicate and produce new viral particles.
Shotgun sequencing is a method used to sequence long DNA strands by breaking them into smaller, overlapping fragments, which can then be sequenced independently. Here’s how the process typically works: 1. **Fragmentation**: The DNA molecule of interest is randomly cut into smaller fragments using enzymes or physical shearing. The size of these fragments can vary, but they are typically between a few hundred to a few thousand base pairs long.
Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project
Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
Intro to OurBigBook
. Source. We have two killer features:
- topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculusArticles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
- a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
- a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.Figure 1. Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page. View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivativeVideo 2. OurBigBook Web topics demo. Source. - local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
- to OurBigBook.com to get awesome multi-user features like topics and likes
- as HTML files to a static website, which you can host yourself for free on many external providers like GitHub Pages, and remain in full control
Figure 3. Visual Studio Code extension installation.Figure 4. Visual Studio Code extension tree navigation.Figure 5. Web editor. You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally.Video 3. Edit locally and publish demo. Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension.Video 4. OurBigBook Visual Studio Code extension editing and navigation demo. Source. - Infinitely deep tables of contents:
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact





