Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Whiskers
A trademarked method for inserting DNA into plant cells, so that those plant cells will then incorporate that new DNA and express the protein(s) coded-for by that DNA. Developed by ICI Seeds Inc. (Garst Seed Company) in 1993, Whiskers is an alternative to other methods of inserting DNA into plant cells (e.g., the Biolistic® Gene…
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Wheat take-all disease
A fungal disease that attacks wheat (Triticum aestivum) plant roots, and causes dry rot and premature death of the plant. Certain strains of Brassica plants and Pseudomonas bacteria act as natural antifungal agents against the wheat take-all fungus.
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Western blot test
A test that is performed on blood (after centrifugation to remove red blood cells from the blood) to detect AIDS antibodies individually. Gel electrophoresis is used to separate the AIDS antigen proteins of killed (known) AIDS viruses. Next the protein bands (resulting from the gel electrophoresis) are exposed to the blood being tested and (AIDS)…
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Weak Interactions
The forces between atoms that are less strong than the forces involved in a covalent (chemical) bond (between two atoms). Weak interactions include ionic (chemical) bonds, hydrogen bonds, and van der Waals forces.
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Water soluble fiber
Food fiber (e.g., oat fiber) that dissolves in water. It apparently absorbs low-density lipoproteins (LDLP) in the intestine, before the fiber passes from the body, plus inhibits absorption of LDLP by intestinal walls due to increasing the viscosity of the intestine’s contents. Those two effects thus lower the amount of “bad” cholesterol (i.e., LDLP can…
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Viral transactivating protein
The specific protein used by a lytic virus to switch on the cascade of gene regulation by which that virus “takes over” a healthy cell and subverts its molecular processes (machinery) to produce virus components. This (transactivating) protein is key to the whole lytic cycle of the virus and therefore a potential target for therapeutic…
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Vesicular transport (of a protein)
One of three means for a protein molecule to pass between compartments within eucaryotic cells. The compartment “wall” (membrane) possesses a “sensor” (receptor) that detects the presence of correct protein (e.g., after that protein has been synthesized in the cell’s ribosomes), then bulges outward along with that protein molecule. The membrane bulge-containing protein then “breaks…
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Value-enhanced grains
Those grains that possess novel traits that are economically valuable (e.g., higher-than-normal protein content, higher-than-normal oil content, etc.). For example, high-oil corn possesses a kernel oil content of 5.8% of greater, versus oil content of 3.5% or less for traditional No. 2 yellow corn. High-amylose com possesses a kernel amylose (starch) content of 50% or…
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Valine (val)
An amino acid considered essential for normal growth of animals. It is biosynthesized (made) from pyruvic acid. Valine is a branched-chain, essential amino acid. It is needed for synthesis of proteins and can be used for energy production within the muscle cell as well. Metabolism of valine in the muscle results in the eventual production of…
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Vaginosis
The process whereby a cell internalizes an entity (such as a virus or a protein) that has bound to the cell’s outer membrane. Once that “bound entity” is inside the cell, the cell membrane fuses together again. A vaginal infection characterized by a smelly discharge and the presence of Gardnerella, Mycoplasma, and other anaerobic bacteria,…
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