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

Explain enzyme glutamate oxaloacetate, Enzyme  glutamate oxaloacetate tran...

Enzyme  glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase catalyzes  the  reaction between glutamate and oxaloacetate with the formation of a-ketoglutarate and aspartate due to transfer  of one

Genetics, What does skin color in man shows?

What does skin color in man shows?

B -pleated sheets protein structure, β - Pleated Sheets In this in...

β - Pleated Sheets In this inter molecular hydrogen bonds are present Two or more polypeptide chains come together and from a sheet. Condensation in little. However

Composition-atmosphere, Composition The present day composition of atmo...

Composition The present day composition of atmosphere is the product of a lengthy evolutionary process that began more than four billion years ago. It is composed of a mixture

Give examples of diseases caused by bacteria, Give three examples of diseas...

Give three examples of diseases caused by bacteria, Diseases caused by bacteria contain tonsillitis, blood poisoning, scarlet fever, tuberculosis, typhoid, diphtheria, food poi

Transport of instruments to the sterilization area, Most dental offices hav...

Most dental offices have a designated area for instrument reprocessing that is separate from the dental treatment room. This is ideal, since cleaning, sterilizing and storing instr

What are the capillaries of the vascular system, What are the capillaries o...

What are the capillaries of the vascular system? Capillaries are small blood vessels that perform exchange of substances among the blood and the body tissues. Capillaries are n

What is meant by bioassay, What is meant by bioassay? Name the two bio...

What is meant by bioassay? Name the two bioassays that are used to determine auxin activity in plants.

Classification of carbohydrates - degree of polymerization, Define Classifi...

Define Classification of Carbohydrates - Degree of Polymerization? Classification on the basis of Degree of Polymerization (DP) Carbohydrates are classified by their degree

Deficiency diseases-vitamin- d deficiency, Vitamin- D deficiency Anima...

Vitamin- D deficiency Animals obtain vitamin D either through the diet or when skin is exposed to solar radiation. The deficiency of vitamin D is associated with reduced absor

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