Once a DNA fragment has been isolated or produced (see the last article), the next step is often to produce many copies of it. One common way to do this is to use the polymerase chain reaction, which is a fairly simple process that can be automated. In this article we will look in detail... Continue Reading →
The Cell Cycle and DNA Replication – Cell Division Ep 1
All the cells in multicellular organisms which are capable of division go through a cell cycle - a sequence of phases which incorporates cell growth, DNA replication, and cell division by mitosis. However, remember that not all cells are capable of division e.g. red blood cells. The Cell Cycle The cell cycle begins just after... Continue Reading →
Transcription and Splicing – Genes to Proteins Ep 2
Transcription is the first stage of protein synthesis. It transcribes a DNA sequence into a messenger RNA (mRNA) sequence. In eukaryotic cells, DNA is found in the nucleus so that is where transcription occurs. In prokaryotic cells it happens in the cytoplasm because the DNA is not contained in a nucleus. In this article will... Continue Reading →
The Genetic Code – Genes to Proteins Ep 1
Welcome to this series looking at how the genetic code instructs cells to make proteins. We will be talking about DNA, RNA, and proteins a lot so head over to those articles if you are unsure about the basic structure or function of those molecules. Today, we're going to be taking a look inside the... Continue Reading →
ATP – Biological Molecules Ep 5
Today we are looking at adenosine triphosphate, often just abbreviated to ATP because as with most scientific terms, it's a bit of a mouthful. This molecule is very important in providing an immediate source of energy for processes in cells. Let's have a closer look at its structure and function. Structure of ATP ATP is... Continue Reading →
RNA – Biological Molecules Ep 2
Most people have heard of DNA, but ribonucleic acid (RNA) is its lesser known cousin. They have many similar features, but quite different functions. There are different types of RNA, the three main types being messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). If you have been following the cell organelle series, you... Continue Reading →
DNA – Biological Molecules Ep 1
DNA is the abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid. A long word for an extremely long molecule; there is about two meters of DNA in each human cell. There is so much to say about this fascinating molecule, but here we will focus on the basic structure and function. DNA introduction Firstly, where is DNA found? In... Continue Reading →
