Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Projections that anchor the epidermis (surface skin) to the dermis (subsurface tissue). Growth of these projections is increased by epidermal growth factor during the wound healing process.  

Interaction between nonallelic genes in which the presence of a certain allele at one locus prevents expression of an allele at a different locus. The suppression of the action of a gene or genes by a gene or genes not allelomorphic to those suppresses. Those suppressed are said to be hypostatic. This is distinguished from…

An independent genetic element (DNA) that occurs inside bacterium in addition to the normal bacterial cell genome. The episome can replicate either as an autonomous unit or as one integrated into the host genome. The F (fertility) factor is an episome.  

Two stereoisomers differing in configuration. One of a pair of isomers that differ only in the position of the hydrogen atom and the hydroxyl group attached to one asymmetrical carbon atom.  

An enzyme capable of the reversible interconversion of two epimers.  

Commonly known as induction (of an enzyme). Initially a repressor protein is bound to a specific region of DNA. This binding inhibits transcription to mRNA, thus blocking the synthesis of the protein (enzyme) specified by the mRNA. When present, the inducer molecule binds to the repressor protein and inactivates it. Thus the inhibition caused by…

The loss of enzyme (catalytic) activity due to loss of the correct functional structure of the protein. Denaturation may be caused by factors such as exposure to heat and organic solvents, degradation of the enzyme molecule by proteases, oxygen, and acid or alkaline pH.  

The several dozen (approximately 60 known, as of 1 996) serotypes (strains) of E. coli bacteria that cause internal hemorrhaging in humans that ingest those bacteria. The toxin produced by these particular E. coli bacteria attacks the human kidney, which often leads to kidney failure and/or death of infected humans.  

The fermentation of (usually chopped-up) agricultural vegetation in order to preserve it. It is carried out for 1-2 weeks, using either indigenous microorganisms (e.g., Lactobacillus spp.) or introduced microorganisms (to speed up the process, yield product containing more nutrients for livestock, etc.), in the absence of oxygen (to prevent the growth of aerobic mold fungi).…

Chimeric monoclonal antibodies, produced via genetic engineering of human antibody-producing cells (clones). For example, the genes coding for antilymphoma binding sites from a rat have been inserted into human antibody-producing cells to yield rat (antigen) binding sites mounted on human antibody “stems.”