Membranes (What knowledge have you connected with past knowledge?)

Membranes

In recent labs dealing with membranes I can not only better understand them but also physically can tell how they can be easy to manipulate and are strong. They are beneficial to use because they do not rip effortlessly and can undergo many different laboratory conditions, were as other things such as films or gels for example would not be able to stay intact. A cell would not be capable of performing many and/or all of its functions (mainly inside of the cell), if it wasn’t enclosed in a resilient external membrane. The membrane has multiple functions such as acting as a protection shield/selective barrier, only allowing certain things in and out of the cell, for example virus’s. Many proteins are allowed to move in and out of the membrane, depending on its size and shape, and the membrane and/or proteins are able to be dyed to better visualize specifics of the membrane and what it encompasses. In our recent lab, such as the Western Blot, we were able to manipulate and transfer proteins onto a membrane and add a blue like color to dye the protein bands on the membrane to be able to visualize the results, which then lets students better understand not only how the Western Block works but better understand the functions and purpose of the membrane in that specific lab.

Without the membrane the cell would appear nearly as a pile of mush, having no major function or importance. Membranes can be of all different sizes, thicknesses, and pore sizes depending on its purpose. A membrane is almost structured accordingly to what it is needed/used for, for example a plant membrane and human membrane appear much different due to them having different functions internally and externally. The membrane is not only the cells leading support system but also protects the cell from foreign substances/objects, which may be toxic and/or harmful to the cell, which could in turn lead to cell death.

Finding a protein using PDB explorer

GFP

The protein that I have chosen is the GFP protein, which stands for green fluorescent protein. This GFP protein is said to be found in the north pacific waters, in specific jellyfish. This jellyfish contains "bioluminescent protein, which is an aequorin." This protein itself is actually emits a blue color but this is where the GTP protein comes into play. The GTP protein then takes this bioluminescent protein and converts it to green light. It emits this color by absorbing the UV rays from the sun, through the water, into the jellyfish, which in turn emits its green fluorescent color, at a much lower intensity than the UV rays from the sun. If you were to look at this jellyfish not in the sunlight but rather inside under a regular lamp light it would appear to be a yellow color.

This GFP protein can be used in a number of ways, mostly because it is so easy to use. For example the GFP protein can be used as a marker protein in a therapeutic or cancer drug that you can be given to a patient with a certain disease and/or cancerous. Being able to track the path that this drug is traveling, being able to time its reaction rate (how quick the drug is being taken up by the cells) or see what isn't functioning appropriately. For example, if certain protein(s) aren’t binding or aren’t capable of binding proficiently to its specific receptor site, this would show researchers the location of where the cancer is being generated and could help supply answers to finding a cure.

GFP can also be used for studying abundant living cell types and making a slight mutation in the stability of the chromophore, or they can be used as biosensors, which sense ion or pH levels. It is a very unique, fast growing protein that is being used worldwide and is even being inserted into different animals such as rabbits, mice, frogs etc. GFP is a great tool for genetic engineering (it can fold on itself and glow) and its popularity of use is greater than ever.

What is Biochemistry?

What is biochemistry, and how does it differ from the fields of genetics, biology, chemistry, and molecular biology?

Biochemistry is the study of chemical reactions, structures and how living things are composed. Many science fields are tied into Biochemistry, such asOrganic Chemistry, which  allows us to better understand the composition of molecules. To me Biochemistry focuses on the medical field such as the study of pharmacology, and allows us to see the different mechanisms of drugs and how it acts on the body and using different concepts within the biochemistry field to help diagnose, asses and better understand specific diseases. Biochemistry can easily be tied into any field of science but there are the key factors in which each field of science focuses on, which sets them apart from one another.

Biochemistry differs from the field of genetics, biology, chemistry and molecular biology because many biochemists work in teams versus chemists, molecular biologists, geneticists, and biologists work on a wide range of things and usually work independently or with one other. You dont see many nobel prizes and awards to chemists and such to a group of ten people, it's usually to one individual or maybe a group of three. Also Biochemists are known to specialize in a particular field such as food research, air, drugs, water, waste...things to do with the environment and how they can better the earth as a whole. Biochemists mainly focus on the origins of life, the cell, and different ways you can minipulate these things, and seeing what effects will happen, in hopes to improve its function.

Molecular biology is comprised of chemistry, biology, and mostly genetics. Molecular biology deals with understanding how various systems of the cell function and are regulated. Genetics is the study of the molecular structure and function of genes, looking at how different genes are passed on from generation to generation.

To me Biochemists seem as though they are very highly educated eco-friendly researchers/scientist, "going green." They seem to focus on earthly things and how they can better the world. For example trying to find a safe way to get rid of toxic waste or cut down carbon emitions in the air. Especially in the era that we live in now, with this economy and polluted planet, I believe biochemistry is a more favored area of scientific research than it was 100 years ago.