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What is Neuroscience?

The term "neuroscience" refers to the scientific study of the nervous system. The word is derived from a combination of the words "neuron" meaning "nerve" and "science".

17 Jan 2014

Introns and exons are parts of genes. Exons code for proteins, whereas introns do not. A great way to remember this is by considering introns as intervening sequences and exons as expressed sequences.

13 Nov 2012

DNA Methylation Detection

DNA methylation is one of the most important modifications in mammalian cells which plays an essential role in regulating growth of the cells and their proliferation. In humans, it refers to the addition of a methyl group at the 5-carbon position of cytosine (5-methylcytosine or 5 mC), which happens exclusively at symmetric CG sites on the DNA double helix – also termed CpG dinucleotides.

10 Apr 2011

DNA Methyltransferase Enzymes: DNMT1 to DNMT3

Global cytosine methylation patterns in mammals appear to be controlled by a complex interaction of DNA methyltransferases: DNMT1, DNMT2, DNMT3A and DNMT3B.

10 Apr 2011

What is DNA Methylation?

DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism used by cells to control gene expression. A number of mechanisms exist to control gene expression in eukaryotes, but DNA methylation is a commonly used epigenetic signaling tool that can fix genes in the “off” position.

10 Apr 2011

What is Autophagy?

The word autophagy is derived from Greek words “auto” meaning self and “phagy” meaning eating. Autophagy is a normal physiological process in the body that deals with destruction of cells in the body.

31 Jan 2011

Ubiquitin-Like Modifiers

Ubiquitin is the most widely recognised post-translation modifier that bonds to proteins, marking them for degradation in the proteasome. However, there are many other proteins that have similar properties and are grouped together as a family, referred to as ubiquitin-like modifiers.

4 Nov 2010

Ubiquitin and Diseases

Ubiquitin, and the biological pathways of this protein, has been associated with the pathogenesis of certain diseases. Additionally, it is also thought to be beneficial in the diagnosis certain conditions, acting as a biological marker.

4 Nov 2010

Ubiquitin Function and Variety

The most widely regarded function of ubiquitin is its ability to mark proteins that need to be degraded by the proteasome. It is for this reason that it is occasionally referred to as the molecular “kiss of death” for proteins.

4 Nov 2010

Ubiquitination (Ubiquitylation)

Ubiquitination, also known as ubiquitylation, is an enzymatic process that involves the bonding of an ubiquitin protein to a substrate protein. This has sometimes been referred to as the molecular “kiss of death” for a protein, as the substrate usually becomes inactivated and is tagged for degradation by the proteasome through the attachment of the ubiquitin molecule.

4 Nov 2010

What is Ubiquitin?

Ubiquitin is a small protein that is found in almost all cellular tissues in humans and other eukaryotic organisms, which helps to regulate the processes of other proteins in the body.

4 Nov 2010

Gene Concepts

The underlying concept of Genes has undergone rapid changes over the last few decades. It was originally thought as the unit of inheritance and simply a DNA based unit that converts to RNA and forms proteins that are essential for life. Genes were thought to form the blue print of an organism.

3 Nov 2010

Gene History

Gregor Mendel the “Father of Genetics”

3 Nov 2010

What are Genes?

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the chemical information database that carries the complete set of instructions for the cell as to the nature of the proteins produced by it, its life span, maturity, function and death. Genes are the working subunits of DNA. Each gene contains a particular set of instructions, usually coding for a particular protein or for a particular function.

3 Nov 2010

Oligonucleotide Synthesis

Oligonucleotides are short chains of base pairs that are used for a variety of applications in research, genetic testing and forensics.

22 Sep 2010

What is an Oligonucleotide?

Oligonucleotides are short nucleic acid polymers used in research, genetic testing and forensics.

22 Sep 2010

Types of Viral Vectors

There are several types of viral vectors that can be used to deliver nucleic acids into the genetic makeup of cells, including retrovirus, lentivirus, adenovirus, adeno-associated virus and herpes simplex virus. Each of these has unique advantages and disadvantages for specific applications, as outlined below.

14 Sep 2010

Viral Vector Applications

Viruses have evolved by borrowing and modifying cellular genes to become extremely efficient at nucleic acid delivery to different cell types, avoiding at the same time immunosurveillance by an infected host. Those are the main properties that make viruses highly attractive gene-delivery vehicles (or vectors).

14 Sep 2010

What are Viral Vectors?

Regardless of their origin and family, viruses have evolved elegant strategies to reach and enter specific target cells where they seize the cellular machinery to express viral genes and assemble progeny particles. In the same way, viral vectors represent the most effective means of gene transfer to modify specific cell type or tissue, and can be manipulated to express therapeutic genes.

14 Sep 2010

Recombinant DNA Applications

Recombinant DNA (rDNA) has many uses in the society of today, from research and biotechnology to the medicine stocked on the shelves of pharmacies. The ability to manipulate the creation of DNA with technology has proven to be useful in various applications, as outlined below.

16 Aug 2010