Radioisotopes, Biology

Assignment Help:

Radioisotopes

Radioisotopes are those forms of an element which exhibit rzdioactivity and so can be used as markers or tracers. For this purpose, we first introduce the radioisotope in a molecule in the cell and then detect the radioactivity with the help of certain device. For example, if we replace a suitable hydrogen atom of thymidine by 3H, we may trace the course of thymidine in the cell. Since thymidine is a component of DNA but not of RNA, we can be sure that we are following only DNA metabolism. Similarly, to know the course of protein synthesis we may use radioactively labelled amino acids.

Radioisotopes are used to:

(a) measure the rates of metabolic turnover of a material within a cell or tissue,

(b) locate the site of synthesis of molecules,

(c) measure the rate of exchange of materials across cellular membranes,

(d) locate a molecule in a cell. Radioisotopes are widely applied to study also the precursor-product relathship.

Many times when a radioactively labelled mokcule (pncursor) is introduced into a system. The molecule is chemically converted into another form (product). For example, when radioactive iron is introduced in blood, radioactivity can be detected in liver femtin and haemoglobin of red blood cells. Similarly, radioactivity of 32P- labelled phosphate can be detected in many phospholipids.


Related Discussions:- Radioisotopes

Enzyme synthesis, Enzyme Synthesis Nitrate assimilating system in gene...

Enzyme Synthesis Nitrate assimilating system in general is known to show increase in nitrate uptake system and nitrate reductase system in the presence of nitrate. In other wo

Nastic and epinastic responses, Nastic and Epinastic Responses Parato...

Nastic and Epinastic Responses Paratonic variation movements of plant parts in which direction of movement is independent of the direction of stimulus. Nastic responses are l

What is contact osteogenesis, Contact Osteogenesis In this the osteoge...

Contact Osteogenesis In this the osteogenic cells attach to the implant surface and the new (de novo) bone is formed on the implant surface first. The developing bone matrix c

Discovery of the cell, Q. Describe the Discovery of the Cell? Ans: The ...

Q. Describe the Discovery of the Cell? Ans: The discovery that living organisms are composed of cells was made by an Englishman, Robert Hooke, in 1665. Hooke used the light mic

Define the term parasite -giardia, Normal 0 false false fal...

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Cutaneous respiration in frog, Cutaneous respiration in frog Frog be...

Cutaneous respiration in frog Frog belongs to class Amphibia under vertebrates. It is an amphibious animal which can live both on land and in water. Skin is very impor

Define blank titration for saponification number of fats, Define Blank Titr...

Define Blank Titration for Saponification Number of Fats? Pipette 5 ml of alcoholic KOH in a 250 ml conical flask. Titrate against standardized HCI using phenolphtalein as an i

How sex chromosomes of the xy system -sex determination, Concerning the sex...

Concerning the sex chromosomes of the XY system which type of gamete do the male and the female individuals respectively produce? An Individual of the female sex is XX and thus

Morphological and anatomical evidences of evolution, MORPHOLOGICAL AND ANAT...

MORPHOLOGICAL AND ANATOMICAL EVIDENCES - (i ) HOMOLOGOUS ORGANS - The organs apparently similar or dissimilar in structure and function, but of similar embryonic origi

Congestive heart failure (chf), C o ngestive heart failure (CHF) The ...

C o ngestive heart failure (CHF) The heart is unable to maintain circulatory equilibrium at rest and congestion of venous circuit takes place followed by dilatation of vessel

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd