Seed Media Group

Search this blog

Profile

Molecules: You'd better learn to live with them.

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Blogroll

Other Information


The author is not a physician. The content on this website does not, and is not intended to constitute medical advice. It should not be relied upon when making medical decisions. It is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare provider.

Biology:

Hydroquinone (Antioxidant or toxin)

One of the most heavily trafficked entries on this site is that on TBHQ. While it's an antioxidant, it's a synthetic one, and some have suggested it might be toxic. Another antioxidant, ferulic acid, found in wheat, works on much...

Phthalocyanine (More giant chromophores)

Longtime readers will know I like big dye molecules....

N-Cyanoimidazole (It's hard in water!)

All of life links up biomolecules effortlessly, from the august readers of this blog, to the humble bacteria that colonize the half-eaten food on their desks. It makes it frustrating for scientists who are trying to synthesize them. We have...

Biotin (Different things to different people)

Biotin is just a vitamin to most of us. To a lot of biologists, though, it plays the unlikely role of some of the strongest glue around....

Cori Ester (Don't touch that if you don't understand what it does)

I have a lot of sympathy for graphic designers. For every one preaching to you about how you can't possibly appreciate whitespace on the same level she does, there's nine out there slogging away doing honest work. The ones who...

Back tomorrow...

But if you've never read it, check out Can a Biologist Fix a Radio?...

Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (An even smellier way to make proteins than bacteria)

Making biomolecules is tricky - getting a reasonable quantity of whatever DNA or protein you're after can take what seems like heroic efforts. You're made acutely aware of the fact that the humblest bacterium does this without breaking a sweat....

Selenocysteine (#21)

Amino acids impart lots of functions to proteins, and a lot of the interesting chemistry happens at a few residues. Many hydrophobic residues like valine and leucine play a huge role - they don't like to touch water, and they...

DCMU (Who needs electron transport anyway?)

DCMU is a simple aromatic molecule, and a pretty specific electron acceptor for the photosystem II protein found in plants. What does this mean?...

Ellman Reagent (See your sulfur)

Ellman reagent can be used to quantitate the amount of free thiol present in a protein or other molecule:...

Search All Blogs

Blogs in the Network

Top Five: Most Active

Top Science Stories

powered by SEED - seedmagazine.com