Biology
Table of Contents
1. Genetics
1.1. Gene
유전자
A segment of DNA for a single instruction.
There are activators and repressors of the gene, and many of them can composed to control a single gene.
1.1.1. Genetic Code
- G Guanine
- C Cytosine
- A Adenine
- T Thymine
- U Uracil is used in mRNA instead
Three of the letters constitute a codon which represents a single amino acid. The amino acid can attach to a codon when ribosome is on its way of protein synthesis.
1.1.2. Protein Sequence
- F Phenylalanine
- L Leucine
- I Isoleucine
- M Methionine
- V Valine
- S Serine
- P Proline
- T Threonine
- A Alanine
- Y Tyrosine
- H Histidine
- Q Glutamine
- N Asparagine
- K Lysine
- D Aspartic Acid
- E Glutamic Acid
- C Cysteine
- W Tryptophan
- R Arginine
- G Glycine
The proteins can be used for many complex chemical processes.
1.1.3. Operon
1.1.3.1. Lac Operon
The gene produces the Lac Repressor. The repressor molecule binds to the sepcial sequence between the promoter and the main protein sequence, and prevents the RNA polymerase from binding into the gene.
Lactose molecules can binds to the Lac repressor change the shape of it. The repressor then releases the gene for expression.
1.1.4. Promoter
The special codons that let the Ribosome to attach and start copying down the RNA.
1.1.4.1. Constituitive
The ribosome will diffuse onto the promoter and try to create the protein constantly.
There are many promoters with different level in the amount of expression, the synthesis of the protein.
1.1.5. Terminator
The special codons that let the Ribosome to detach and stop copying.
1.1.6. Genome
유전체
The entirety of the genetic information within an organism.
1.1.7. Intron
Sequnces within the DNA that does not encode protein. It is chopped of when mRNA is produced.
1.2. Chromosome
DNA is coiled around a protein to form a large bar structure called chromosome.
1.3. RNA Polymerase
RNAP, RNApol
It synthesize the RNA for various purposes: mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, miRNA.
1.4. Ribosome
A ribonucleoprotein complex that made out of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and ribosomal proteins.
It is found within all cells, and performs biological protein synthesis, also known as messanger RNA translation.
The transfer RNA (tRNA), that has anti-codon, binds to a specific amino acid, and carries it to the ribosome. tRNA then binds to the mRNA if possible synthesizing the protein in the correct order.
1.5. Blood Type
The blood type can be viewed as just a variation in the process of evolution.
1.5.1. ABO
- Each half of chromosome 9 (염색체) can have one of the A, B, O.
- A, B are dominant, and O is recessive. (우성, 열성) (현성, 잠성)
- It determines the carbohydrate chain on the surface of the red blood cell, which act as a antigen, which can incur immune response that creates antibody.
- A person is autoimmune to its own antigen?
- O probably comes from the German ohne.
1.5.2. Rh
First discovered in Rhesus (히말라야 몽키) in 1941.
- It is the protein antigen on the red blood cell.
- There is about 50 different antigens: prominantly C, c, D, E, e.
- It is called Rh+ if D exists, and Rh- otherwise.
When the mother is Rh-, she creates antibody on her first pregency, but immune response is dangerous on her second pregency.
1.6. Barr Body
바소체
여성의 체세포에서 발견되는 비활성화된 X염색체이다. Xi 체세포마다 둘 중 어떤 염색체가 비활성화 될지는 제각각이다. 따라서 고양이의 경우 삼색고양이가 나타날 수 있다.
마네키네코는 전설의 수컷 삼색고양이이다.
2. Developmental Biology
2.1. Morphogen
Signaling substance that tells the cells their own position within the body.
2.2. Teratology
Study of abnormal physiological development. From Greek τέρας 'sign sent by the gods, portent, marvel, monster'
2.2.1. Tetragen
Substance that may induce congenital abnormality. Common ones are
- alcohol
- D-thalidomide
- heavy metals, such as mercury and lead
3. Endocrine System
Costisol
Endorpin
4. Thermoregulation
4.1. By the Source of Heat
4.1.1. Endotherm
So-called "warm-blooded animal"
Organism that maintains body temperature largely by their internal bodily functions.
4.1.2. Ectotherm
So-called "cold-blooded animal"
Animals whose internal source of heat has negligible importance in controlling body temperature. Ectotherms can be poikilotherms.
4.1.3. Mesotherm
Organism who can elevate body temperature through metabolism, but does not have full control over it.
4.2. By the Stability of Temperature
4.2.1. Poikilotherm
Animals whose internal temperature varies considerably.
4.2.2. Homeotherm
Animals maintaining stable internal body temperature regardless of external influence.
Some homeotherms, such as desert lizards, may maintain body temperature through behavioral mechanism, and does not produce heat through metabolism. They are homeotherms but not endotherms.
4.2.3. Heterotherm
Animals that can switch between poikilothermic and homeothermic strategies.
5. Reproduction
5.1. Isogamy and Oogamy
- ΩΟΝ "egg", ΓΑΜΕΩ "to have sex, or to reproduce"
Oogamy is sexual reproduction where gametes differ in both size and form, for example sperm and ovum.
6. Genetic Engineering
Specific sequence of DNA is injected to E. coli, programming them to produce desired protein.
6.1. Origin of Replication
ORI
The site at which the duplication of the plasmid starts to happen during the replication process of a cell.
There are many types of ORI that controls how the DNA should be replicated in various ways. e.g. low-copy or high-copy.
6.2. Vector
As in the carrier of a disease, it carries the disired DNA snippets.
There are prebuilt vectors available.
6.3. Linker
A short sequence of codons that generates the linkage between two protein molecules.
6.4. AlphaFold
AlphaFold is an AI that can predict the structure of the protein given the codons. AlphaFold was first published in July 2021.
AlphaFold looks for pair mutation and checks if they can be physically close to each other.
The distance information is passed to the structure module to place the amino acids one by one at its correct place within 3D space.