The function of chemistry within the scope of biology; the study of the compounds that occur, and the reactions involving them, in living organisms.
8
votes
3answers
2k views
Why can't the brain and red blood cells use fuels other than glucose?
The question is rather straight forward: I have always been curious as to why, but cannot find an explanation online.
I can imagine that the mechanism is different for each, but why does brain tissue ...
14
votes
2answers
905 views
Why is glucose our primary source of energy?
Is there any evolutionary reason for glucose being the "main" molecule used as a source of energy, beginning with glycolysis and subsequently cellular respiration (after being converted to two ...
2
votes
1answer
111 views
Negative feedback in the fructose metabolism in liver
What happens in liver when large amount of fructose is consumed?
I vaguely remember my biochemistry lecturer telling us that the enzymes that process fructose in the liver does not have negative ...
15
votes
4answers
705 views
Why are there exactly four nucleobases in DNA?
Does someone know why DNA is composed of four nucleobases? In particular, is there an explanation for the number? Why four and not two, or eight?
8
votes
1answer
180 views
Why does hair turn grey or white, and why does it happen later for some?
The question is pretty simple: what is happening molecularly when hair turns grey or white? I would imagine that it is due to the lack of a particular compound. I'm also interested in why some ...
1
vote
2answers
227 views
How are proteins formed?
Somewhere, I have read that we need to consume proteins to make amino acids to make new proteins. What does it suggest? How do we make proteins from proteins?
3
votes
1answer
398 views
What are the units of Q10 (temperature sensitivity)?
Q10 is the increase in a rate (e.g. activity of an enzyme) observed with a 10 degree temperature increase.
According to Wikipedia:
It is apparent that the units of R (e.g. mol/g/s) cancel out, ...
2
votes
1answer
174 views
Does caffeine increase the speed at which sperm travels?
I'm not even sure if this claim is true, but...
This source states that
Caffeine gives both types of sperm a boost, but the Y-sperm would get a little more of a boost.
This article reinforces ...
5
votes
1answer
144 views
Are the cytosol and extracellular fluids electrically neutral?
I've found several sources that state that overall, the cytosol of a cell is electrically neutral. The extracellular fluid is also purportedly electrically neutral. How can that be when we have ...
6
votes
2answers
311 views
What is the correct model for enzyme-substrate complementarity?
This Wikibook shows both proposed models of enzyme-substrate complementarity, the Lock and Key model and the Induced Fit model. I've always been taught that the Induced Fit model is the proper one. ...
3
votes
1answer
178 views
Troubleshooting bioconjugates migration in a SDS-PAGE gel?
We do a lot of bioconjugation chemistry (click chemistry in particular but also NHS and Maleimide chemistries). Our method to valid the conjugation reactions have been to use SDS-PAGE gels followed ...
1
vote
1answer
143 views
Which concentration of BSA is recommended for dynamic light scattering experiments?
What is the recommended concentration of BSA to be mixed with water so as to prepare a very dilute solution in order to clearly study the intensity-intensity correlation with single scattering ?
I ...
7
votes
1answer
132 views
What makes a wet dog so stinky?
Similarly, what makes a wet down comforter so stinky? Why do they make no smell except when liquid is added?
4
votes
1answer
159 views
Why are omega-3 fatty acids so easily oxidized when they're incorporated in cellular membranes?
Apparently, this has led to results with clinical significance, as we can see at http://extremelongevity.net/2011/10/03/daily-fish-oil-consumption-may-reduce-lifespan/...
The researchers fed a ...
7
votes
1answer
92 views
How Antioxidants affects Human Metabolism?
I'd like to know how antioxidants affects the human metabolism and which ones are essential for metabolism processes.
1
vote
1answer
85 views
How to manufacture different sized micelles in nano -scale?
I am trying to answer q5:
"How can you manufacture micelles in A) nanometerer -scale B) and in ten nanometer -scale?"
My Thinking
Observations and some thinking
Oil in ...
2
votes
1answer
145 views
What happens to colloidal particles in a liquid medium? And how to stabilize it?
Definition
Colloid is a dispresion of small particles of one material in another.
Definition 2 (Wikipedia)
A colloidal system consists of two separate phases: a ...
