Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A 1 976 American federal law under which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has sought to regulate the release of genetically engineered organisms (e.g., bacteria or plants) that produce natural insecticides. This is based on supposed analogy to synthetic chemical insecticides, which are clearly regulated under TSCA.  

Bone marrow cells that (when signalled) mature into both red blood cells and white blood cells. Receptors on the surface of totipotent stem cells “grasp” passing blood cell growth factors (e.g., Interleukin-7, Stem Cell Growth Factor, etc.), bringing them inside these stem cells and thus causing the maturation and differentiation into red and white blood…

One the of smallest viruses, consisting of some 2,200 chains of identical polypeptides and a molecule of RNA. All of the genetic/heredity information of the Tobacco Mosaic Virus is contained in its RNA. The first discovery of a self-assembling, active biological structure occurred in 1955, when Heinz Frankel-Conrat and Robley Williams showed that TMV, will…

A glycoprotein that possesses thrombolytic (i.e., blood clot-dissolving) activity. It is used as a drug to dissolve clots and acts by first binding to fibrin (clots). It then activates (i.e., proteolytically cleaves) plasminogen (molecules) to yield plasmin, a bloodbome enzyme that itself cleaves molecular bonds in the fibrin clot. The plasmin molecules diffuse through the…

The growth and maintenance (by researchers) of cells from higher organisms in vitro, that is, in a sterile test tube environment that contains the nutrients necessary for cell growth. The growth of cells from plants or animals in sterile media, often to be used in research or the diagnosis of disease. Tissue grown in a…

A gland that is found on both sides of the trachea (“windpipe”) in humans. This gland secretes the hormone thyroxine, which increases the rate of metabolism. A gland located in the front of the neck that secretes thyroid hormones, which are important in body metabolism. The endocrine gland situated in the neck that secretes thyroid…

A class of drugs that primarily exerts their effect on the brain influencing “feeling” and behavior.  

A pyrimidine component of nucleic acid first isolated from the thymus. One of the four nitrogenous bases in nucleic acid. One of the four basic chemicals in DNA. One of the nitrogen-containing bases occurring in the nucleic acids DNA and RNA. A pyrimidine base present in DNA (not RNA) where it is paired with adenine.…

Blood-borne compounds (such as tissue plasminogen activator) that work to disintegrate (break up or lyse) blood clots. These are compounds with the property of breaking up blood clots in the circulatory system. Any drug that degrades blood clots. Examples include streptokinase, tenecteplase, tissue plasminogen activator, and urokinase. Such drugs are used to treat the abnormal…

The reduced, active coenzyme form of the vitamin folic acid; involved in Ci transfers. Tetrahydrofolate (also known as FH4) serves as an intermediate carrier (molecule) of methyl, hydroxymethyl, or formyl groups (all containing one carbon atom) in a relatively large number of enzymatic reactions in which such one-carbon groups are transferred from one metabolite to…