Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Map distance
A number proportional to the frequency of recombination between two genes. One map unit corresponds to a recombination frequency of 1 percent.
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Mannanoligosaccharides (MOS)
A family of oligosaccharides that can be produced by man in commercial quantities via certain yeast cells. When consumed (e.g., by livestock), mannose sugars in the MOS stimulate the liver to secrete the mannose-binding protein. Mannose binding protein enters the digestive system and binds to the (mannosecontaining) capsule (surface membrane) of pathogenic bacteria. That binding…
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Mammalian cell culture
Technology to artificially cultivate cells, of mammal origin, in a laboratory or production-scale device (i.e., in vitro). Can be either a batch or continuous process device. The first mammalian cell culture was performed by a neurobiologist named R. G. Harrison in 1907, when he added chopped-up spinal cord tissue to clotted (blood) plasma in a…
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MAL (multiple aleurone layer) gene
A gene in com (maize) that (when present in the DNA of a given plant) causes that plant to produce seed that contains higher-than-normal levels of calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and manganese. These higher mineral levels are particularly useful for feeding of swine, since traditional No. 2 yellow (dent) com does not contain enough for…
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Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)
A chromosomal region (approximately 3,000 Kb) which encodes for three classes of transmembrane (cell) proteins. MHC I proteins (located on the surface of nearly all cells) present foreign epitopes (i.e., fragments of antigens that have been ingested; peptides) to cytotoxic T cells (killer T cells). MHC II proteins (located on the surface of immune system…
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Magainins
Discovered within frog skin tissues by Michael Zasloff in 1987, magainins are antimicrobial, amphopathic peptides that lyse (i.e., burst) certain cells upon contact by “worming” their hydrophobic portion into the cell’s membrane, which creates a transmembrane (i.e., through the surface) pore (allowing ions to flow into the cell, causing osmotic bursting). Magainins are selective against…
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Macromolecules
Large molecules with molecular weights ranging from a few thousand to hundreds of millions. A large molecule is a term used to identify large structures, such as ribosomes, in living cells. A large molecule such as a protein, polymer, or polysaccharide.
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Lytic infection
A viral infection in which the final act of the infection is to lyse (i.e., burst, or destroy) the cell. This then releases the new (progeny) viruses so they can go on to infect other cells. After a virus invades a cell, new viruses are produced that break open the cell, releasing the viruses.
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Lyse
To rupture a membrane (cell). The act of lysis (rupturing a membrane).
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Luteinizing hormone (LH)
A reproductive hormone that acts upon the ovaries to stimulate ovulation. It is secreted by the pituitary gland. This is a sugar-bearing protein manufactured by the anterior pituitary. Like a lot of the pituitary hormones, it surges on and off, since constant secretion would overload and deaden receptors. In women, it builds up after menses,…
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