Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

An angiogenic growth factor produced by tumor cells. It is able to induce specific malignant characteristics in normal cells (such as fibroblasts), thereby “transforming” those cells. TGF-alpha appears to possess a variety of potentially useful pharmaceutical properties, such as powerful stimulation of scar tissue formation following wounding of a tissue, as indicated by preliminary research.…

The process in which free DNA is transferred directly into a competent recipient cell. The direct transfer of genetic material from donor to recipient. The acquisition (e.g., by bacteria cells) of new genetic markers (new traits coded for by the new DNA) via the process of transformation. A genetic recombination in bacteria brought about by…

The protein molecule that is responsible for transporting iron (molecules) to tissues throughout the body, via the circulatory system. Globulin in blood serum that transports iron. An iron-binding protein in the blood that transports iron. A substance found in the blood, which carries iron in the bloodstream. Iron-carrying protein in blood. Blood protein that binds…

The transfer of bacterial genes (DNA) from one bacterium to another by means of a (temperature or defective) bacterial virus (bacteriophage). There exist two kinds of transduction: specialized and general. In the case of specialized transduction, a restricted group of host genes becomes integrated into the virus genome. These “guest” genes usually replace some of…

A group of genes that code for functionally related RNA molecules or protein molecules. This group of genes is expressed (transcribed) together (i.e., as a unit, thus the name).  

The enzyme-catalyzed process whereby the genetic information contained in one strand of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is used as a template to specify and produce a complementary mRNA strand. Transcription may be thought of as a rewriting of the information contained in DNA into RNA. The language, however, is the same—both are nucleic acid-based. This is…

A trans-acting protein has the exceptional property of acting (having an effect) only on the molecule of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) from which it was expressed.  

One of the two isomeric forms that fatty acids can exist in. Trans fatty acids are naturally present in some meat and dairy products (which constitute approximately 5% of the average American diet). Fats that are produced during the process of hydrogenation, which occurs when manufacturers add hydrogen to unsaturated fats to make them more…

A characteristic of an organism, which manifests itself in the phenotype (physically). Many traits are the result of the expression of a single gene, but some are polygenic (result from simultaneous expression of more than one gene). For example, the level of protein content in soybeans is controlled by five genes. A distinguishing feature; a…

A metabolite that is labeled by incorporation of an isotopic atom into its structure. The metabolic fate of the labeled metabolite can then be traced in intact organisms. That is, one is able to ascertain where (in what kind of structure) the metabolite ends up as well as the transformation products (intermediate molecules) which were…