Advantages of Genetic Engineering in Animals

Advantages of Genetic Engineering in Animals How successful would the Enviro-pig be if released into the general pig population in terms of longevity of the trait and continued benefits to the environment? And do the ethical issues stacked against the Enviro-pig validate its modified presents in the genepool? DNA is the foundation of all genetic material found in every living organism on earth. Commonly known as its full name Deoxyribonucleic acid, it is an electrically neutral group of atoms held together in a chemical bond known as a molecule . In this case a biomolecule produced by a living organism composed of nucleic acid, carbohydrates and proteins . This mixture is coiled in two biopolymer strands forming adouble helix. Biopolymers being a biomolecule of a polymer , which is a large molecule, composed of monomers . These biopolymer strands are composed of thirteen nucleotide monomers bonded in a chain, in turn called a polynucleotide . Nucleotides being singular polynucleotides composed of a nucleobase (co ntaining nitrogen). Being split into four bases each nucleobase is as followed: Guanine (C 5 H 5 N 5 O): Pairing in sequence with cytosine, guanine is derived from purine. Purine is an organic compound structured from a pyrimidine ring fused to an imidazole ring (called a pyrimidine-imidazole ring ). The base is represented as ‘G’. Adenine (C 5 H 5 N 5 ): Similar to that of Guanine, Adenine is derived from purine. In addition it’s an important part of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the nitrogenous base adenine bonded to a five carbon sugar. These molecules have the ability to phosphorylise and add phosphate groups to other molecules. This allocation of phosphates allows energy to be released. It is this energy which is used in the cells of living organisms. The base is represented as ‘A’. Thymine (C 5 H 6 N 2 O 2 ): Combining with Adenine this nucleobase is often replaces with uracil in RNA . It is also the common cause of mutations in DNA. When in the presence ofultraviolet light, radiation causes alterations in the DNA molecule that inhibit normal function. These â€Å"kinks† are referred to as pyrimidine dimers . The base is represented as ‘T’. Cytosine ( C 4 H 5 N 3 O) : Pairing with guanine this base is a pyrimidine derivative. A heterocyclic aromatic ring that when as cytosine triphosphate (CTP) can performance as a co-factor to enzymes, able to transfer a phosphate to transfigure adenosine diphosphate (ADP) to adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Nucleotides of a DNA stand line up so each sugar and phosphate molecule connects. As said an adenine only pairs with a thymine and a cytosine only pairs with a guanine. The sugars are linked together by phosphate clusters via phosphodiester bonds, branching between adjacent sugar rings. The dual helix is stabilized by the bases of hydrogen bonds, before bunching together and constricting a vase line of rungs. All are curled to gether with multiple strands to form a chromosome . Being such a delicate sequence of codes , all of which contributing towards every characteristic in an organism, if altered or affect in a minor way a secession of errors and mutations can occur. Mutation is when an alteration of a nucleotide arrangement in the genome causes changes in an organism. Even if by a small change, the structural integrity of a creature can differ. But if this large sequence of coding is only effect in one base, in one strand, located in a single cell, the error theoretically should not affect the creature. However through Protein synthesis and mitosis a fault can replicate and spread.

Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors - Term Paper Example The metals used are mainly gold and silver. When the surface plasmons collide with light energy, a kind of resonance occurs named; surface Plasmon polarization. The resonance continues oscillating along the surface of the metal decaying gradually through loss of energy to the absorption into the metal and radiation to the media interface i.e. air or water or other surface (Bozhevolnyi, 2008). The resonance of the surface Plasmon is then used to monitor the reflected light energy from a prism coupler in relation to the angle of incidence. This method can be applied to solve real life problems like observation of nanometer variations in density, thickness and molecular adsorption. Devices are being innovated every day in application of this technique. The surface Plasmon resonance sensors (SPRS) help detect chemicals, molecules, tissues like proteins, metals among other materials. This technology has been commercialized hence it is used in a very wide number of fields i.e. mass destruc tion weapons, medicine, security protocols, pharmacy, production plants, service delivery like water for residential use, optic communications and so on (Thirstrup, 2004). New and Useful Applications of Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors The applications could be classified into four distinct groups: 1. Optical sensors 2. Biosensors 3. Chemical sensor Optical Sensors The most influential application of this technology was in the fiber optic. In this type of sensors, data is converted into light energy and interfaced with a dielectric metal. The high refractive index of the metal allows for total internal refraction thus the light energy is infinitely refracted along the cable with minimum loss of energy. This excites the surface Plasmons thus creating a surface resonance wave. The fiber optic cable is designed with a core metal in the centre, a bimetallic surround to the inner metal, a protective layer of metal preventing the effect of external waves to the wave in transit and insula tors all around each layer. When a light is beamed on a prism at an angle greater than the critical angle of the media, total internal reflection occurs. The wave formed in the media could be manipulated through the use of a material with a higher di-electric constant. This could be regulated to match the surface Plasmon resonance. It in turn creates a wave that travels along the surface of the metal at very high speeds. The energy formed through conversion of light energy to electronic energy can be controlled to achieve optimum sensor values i.e. increasing the two main parameters: sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio. The sensor can be improved by using a dielectric media with a high refractive index. However, the materials used are limited to costs thus a balance needs to be maintained between the two (Wang, 2002). Figure 1: prism experiment of the surface Plasmon wave Biosensors These are devices used to analyze the detection of analytes that combine physiochemical detector co mponent with biological components e.g. tissues, molecules, fluids and so on. This technology takes advantage of the application of surface Plasmon resonance sensors at the molecular level. This is technically used to identify various types of molecules based on the level of excitement induced by a photon of light incident on the molecules of the object in test. The biosensors are used to perform rather difficult tests i.e. testing the Ph of the brain, the Ph of the eye, the Ph under the skin and so on. The

Argumentive Evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Argumentive Evaluation - Essay Example This paper will critically evaluate how the author built his argument, his tone, mood, purpose for his argument and describe his audience. Stoll (248) argues that giving glitzy gadgets to a child who cannot read or write in class is of no good. He claims that is more painful to direct little children to computer screens than making them read a few pages of a book. However, the author fails to understand that introducing a child to technology at an early age prepares him/her for the modern world that is driven by technology day by day. It is easier to introduce technology to children because they learn faster than adults; thus, teaching them how to use computers even if they can hardly read or write gives them a chance to learn other things such as games, which is more fun than forcing them to read a page in a book. The author Stoll (248) also argues that teaching machines drive students away from reading and writing and even prevent them from attaining scholarships. This is because c omputers take the ability of students to understand questions before writing answers; thus, they substitute the ability of students to reflect and think critically, which involves originality, concentration and intention. Nevertheless, the author is hasty in concluding that computers substitute the ability of students to think critically. Computers do not provide straight forward answers to all questions. This means that students who use computers are required to read and understand the content provided in the computer so that they can choose the best in order to make their own conclusions. Thus, a lot of understanding and critical thinking is required. Moreover, the students are likely to have more fun while searching for information in computers than spending painful hours in the library reading many books. Hence, technology makes learning fun and effortless. As stated by Stoll (248), technology encourages intellectual passivity. He argues that students are likely to focus more on having fun than learning. As a result, they develop inability to exercise patience, persistence, and attentiveness. However, the author fails to explain how students develop distaste for these inabilities by using technology to learn. On the contrary, students are able to exercise patient, attentiveness and persistence when using technology. This is because for them to understand what they are doing they need to be patient and pay attention to the instructions given by their teachers. Moreover, Stoll (248) argues that taking learning as fun cheapens the process of learning and the product. This means that by integrating fun into learning, teachers no longer focus on teaching but entertaining students, which results in poor quality of education. The students also focus more on having fun than learning and scholarships lose their meaning. However, this is not true. This is because if teachers would focus only on teaching, the students would likely to get bored with time. The truth is that everybody gets bored with routine and especially being in a classroom all day without any form of entertainment. If students get bored in class, they may not understand anything that the teacher says. For this reason, incorporating fun in the learning systems makes the learning process even more fun and the students develop more interest in learning; hence, the improving the