Model Organisms in Biology

-
Dear Bioinformatics Neophyte

If you are a bioinformatics neophyte, you are probably aware that experiments, sometimes, are performed on mice and rats.
Mice and rats provide excellent model systems to study the effect of certain drugs and treatments.

Like them, many other organisms are used in experimental biology. I have made a video on these organisms, which I hope you will watch :)



One video was not enough.
So I made another



If you watched the videos, I hope you learnt a lot that you did not already know, and that what you have learnt helps you in your bioinformatics journey. :)

Ciao !

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Are the Results of DNA Analysis Valid Evidence in A Criminal Investigation?

-
Since the 1980s, DNA analysis has been used for medical purposes and to resolve disputes of parentage. It was in 1988, that DNA was first admitted as evidence in court in the case of Florida vs. Tommy Lee Andrews. From 1989 onwards, FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) started accepting casework from Forensic Labs. As a new technology , DNA Analysis had to be shown to satisfy certain well established standards for admissibility of novel scientific evidence. The most common standard is the Frye Rule, although a few courts use the Relevance Test, which is based on the Federal Rules of Evidence. Both standards address the question of admissibility of novel evidence, and rely on expert testimony on matters related to specialized experience and knowledge. Since DNA analysis was already in use for medical applications, the courts quickly accepted that it satisfied Frye Rule. As of today, DNA evidence is admissible in courts of law of all nations, and has been used effectively, especially in...
Read more

PCR (Plymerase Chain Reaction) - From 1983 to 2006- A Chronological Sequence

-
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a Nobel-prize winning nucleic acid amplification technology that allows minute amounts of genetic material to be amplified into billions of copies in just a few hours. It has enabled many significant advances in the Genome projects, DNA fingerprinting and in the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis. Beyond its wide medical applications, PCR has been used to help in our understanding of evolution, human migration and even for use in food safety, archaeology and forensics. In 1983, Dr. Kary Mullis at Cetus Corporation conceived of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). PCR is a simple yet elegant process that enables the production of virtually unlimited copies of genetic material in the laboratory. For the conception of PCR, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to him in 1993. In 1985, Cetus filed the first PCR patent application. The same year, the first publication of PCR by Cetus Corporation appeared in Science. This is the ...
Read more

Ames Test - Detecting Mutagenicity; and Ethidium Bromide as a case study...

-
The Ames Test was developed in the 1970s by Bruce Ames. This test is a gold standard to determine the mutagenicity of substances. It is very valuable in the prelinimary studies of potentially carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds. Mutant strains of the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium (or E.coli) that are histidine auxotrophs (his-), i.e. cannot synthesise histidine from media components and therefore require incorporation of histidine into the media in order to grow, are used. Apart from the his- mutation, these bacteria also carry mutations that render DNA repair mechanisms defective and cell wall synthesis inefficient. These serve to make the cells highly sensitive to mutation. The bacteria are subjected to addition of the compound thought to be a mutagen, and then assayed on his- media. The frequency of reverse mutations (resulting in cells that do survive on histidine deficient media) are counted. This frequency is compared with frequency of spontaneous reverse mutations. An increa...
Read more