DNA Structure - Contents page An Interactive Animated Nonlinear Tutorial by Eric MartzAdapted for using Jmol instead of Chime, by Angel Herráez Part of Biomodel website by Angel Herráez, Univ. de Alcalá (Spain) Disponible también en español. Também disponível em português. Auch verfügbar auf Deutsch. Disponible aussi en français. This version 4.3 works in any Java-compatible browser. If you prefer using Chime for molecular models, the page using it is still available, with equivalent content and functionality. This tutorial is designed to complement Biology or Biochemistry and Molecular Biology books, so it is not by itself a complete introduction to DNA structure. Before proceeding, check that your browser has Java installed and can use the Jmol software: This tutorial is designed to complement an introduction to DNA, by providing tools for a self-directed exploration. Methods, Acknowledgements, and References. Do you know there are more tutorials at MolviZ.Org? More about Jmol: Jmol home page. Version history
The Science Behind Foldit | Foldit Foldit is a revolutionary new computer game enabling you to contribute to important scientific research. This page describes the science behind Foldit and how your playing can help. What is a protein? Proteins are the workhorses in every cell of every living thing. Your body is made up of trillions of cells, of all different kinds: muscle cells, brain cells, blood cells, and more. What are amino acids? What shape will a protein fold into? Why is shape important? What do proteins do? Proteins are present in all living things, even plants, bacteria, and viruses. Photosystem I is a collection of proteins in plants that captures sunlight for photosynthesis.Luciferase catalyzes the chemical reaction that makes fireflies glow.Hemagglutinin helps the influenza virus invade our cells. You can find more information on the rules of protein folding in our FAQ. What big problems is this game tackling? How does my game playing contribute to curing diseases? Firas Khatib, Seth Cooper, Michael D.
Cancer Cure: Soursop Shows Strong Evidence in Studies Cancer has touched many of us in some way. Whether we know of or have overcome cancer ourselves, or know someone who has passed from it, we can all draw some form of intimate connection to the disease. The subject of cures and treatment has been of great debate within the industry as the generally accepted methods of chemotherapy and radiation come with moderately effective results and incredibly tough side effects. While we can argue the obvious financial implications to dominant pharmaceutical companies should a more natural and alternative cure be brought forth, it is still important to realize that many claims are made about alternative cures that may not truly work or work in every case. One alternative treatment of cancer that has been used in the past, especially in countries where it grows well, is Soursop. The active ingredient in Soursop that is proving to be effective is called Annona muricata or Graviola. Sources:
Rediscovering Biology - Online Textbook: Unit 8 Cell Biology & Cancer "We now understand a lot about cancer. We know that it results from a series of genetic changes having to do with cell division and growth control and genetic instability, mortality, the suicide mechanism in cells; the ability of the cells to migrate; the ability of the cells to attract to them a blood supply. And so that's pretty profound that in a few sentences one can summarize a sophisticated, fundamental understanding of what a cancer is." -- Leland Hartwell Introduction A multicellular organism can thrive only when all its cells function in accordance with the rules that govern cell growth and reproduction. To understand how and why cells rebel, we need to understand the normal functions of cell growth and reproduction. Although cancer comprises at least 100 different diseases, all cancer cells share one important characteristic: they are abnormal cells in which the processes regulating normal cell division are disrupted.
Why Study Mitosis-the good, the bad, and the ugly-cancer basics - Inside Cancer Wiki From Inside Cancer Wiki Why Study Mitosis-the good, the bad, the ugly-cancer basics To use this template, click edit, then copy the content of in the edit window box to the edit window of your new lesson. Lesson Overview Briefly describe the lesson here. Goals and Objectives Students will compare the death rates of males and females in lung cancer. Students will explain the effects of smoking on the macroscopic portions of the lungs Students will understand the role of genes in the development of cancer Students will understand how a smoke free life is a part of a cancer free lifestyle Common Misconceptions Students feel that they are invincible, even though students know there is a correlation, they feel it doesn't apply to me. The Lesson Preparation Before class: (documents from Cancer.org.) Student Handouts for the Lesson Plan Describe any handouts and provide links to documents that include the handouts. Suggestions for Extended Learning Glossary
DNA From The Beginning Immortality, One Cell at a Time | Stem Cell Research Tokyo University geneticist Shinya Yamanaka recently hit on a way to convert any normal adult cell into an immortal stem cell, capable of both living forever and morphing into any type of organ or tissue needing replacement in a sick or aging body. One of the biggest hurdles in stem cell research has been getting them. So far, scientists' only options are harvesting new stem cells from human embryos or cloning those already harvested, but both procedures are fraught with ethical and regulatory red tape. Yamanaka knew of another way. By studying the chemical signals released by cells as they undergo this transformation, Yamanaka has managed to concoct a cocktail of four chemicals that can provoke the same conversion. Yamanaka's technique may enable doctors to grow stem cells from adult cells of patients needing treatment.
Aspirin may lower melanoma risk A new study has found that women who take aspirin have a reduced risk of developing melanoma -- and that the longer they take it, the lower the risk. The findings suggest that aspirin's anti-inflammatory effects may help protect against this type of skin cancer. The study is published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. In the Women's Health Initiative, researchers observed US women aged 50 to 79 years for an average of 12 years and noted which individuals developed cancer. When Jean Tang MD, PhD, of Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, and her colleagues analyzed available data from 59,806 Caucasian women in the study, they found that women who took more aspirin were less likely to develop melanoma skin cancer during the 12 years of follow up. "Aspirin works by reducing inflammation and this may be why using aspirin may lower your risk of developing melanoma," said Dr.
Hands-on Activities for Teaching Biology to High School or Middle School Students by Drs. Ingrid Waldron and Jennifer Doherty, University of Pennsylvania The expression "hands-on, minds-on" summarizes the philosophy we have incorporated in these activities -- namely, that students will learn best if they are actively engaged and if their activities are closely linked to understanding important biological concepts. Additional resources for teaching biology are available at Introduction to Biology Is Yeast Alive? Students evaluate whether the little brown grains of yeast obtained from the grocery store are alive by testing for metabolism and growth. Download Student Handout: PDF format or Word format Download Teacher Preparation Notes: PDF format or Word format View and submit comments Alcoholic Fermentation in Yeast (revised, October, 2011) Download Student Handout: PDF format or Word format Download Teacher Preparation Notes: PDF format or Word format View and submit comments Moldy Jell-O Who Took Jerell’s iPod?
Home of CELLS alive! New Muscle Programming Method Uses DNA To Turn Blood Into Beating Heart Cells A new DNA-based cell-transformation method could be a simpler, safer way to convert cells into beating heart cells, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. It involves no viruses and is a foolproof method to create cardiac cells that beat, they say. Cardiac muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, are what makes the heart beat. Scientists have been making cardiomyocytes from other cells for some time, usually by making induced pluripotent stem cells from some other cell, like skin cells or blood cells. The cells are reprogrammed into iPS cells by injecting virus particles that have been manipulated to carry genetic information. But the viruses can cause mutations scientists don't want, and in some cases, they cause cancer. Cardiomyocytes are tricky to make in the lab, developing into clumps of regular, non-beating cells if they are not developed properly. Hopkins researchers went ahead and figured that out. Watch the cells pulse in the video below.