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

Goat pox, Goat pox Goat-pox is common in occurrence, and its nature is ...

Goat pox Goat-pox is common in occurrence, and its nature is similar to sheep pox. The incubation period varies from 5 to 10 days. The disease tends to attack male kids and ewe

Enzymology, Ethylene glycol is a poison that causes about fifty deaths a ye...

Ethylene glycol is a poison that causes about fifty deaths a year in the United States. Treating people who have drunk ethylene glycol with massive doses of ethanol can save their

What is dyspepsia, Q. What is Dyspepsia? Dyspepsia is the most frequent...

Q. What is Dyspepsia? Dyspepsia is the most frequent disorder which we all experience some time or the other. Dyspepsia is the term given to a group of gastrointestinal symptom

smog - london smog and photochemical smog, The word 'smog' consists of two...

The word 'smog' consists of two words 'smoke' and 'fog'. This name was given because Fog in the atmosphere Condense on the carbon particles of smoke to form smog. There are two typ

The advantages of human milk over cow milk, a) What are the advantages of h...

a) What are the advantages of human milk over cows' milk for feeding babies? b) Apart from the composition of the milk, what are the other advantages of breast- feeding?

Coal gas, When coal is carbonized coke is formed along with coal gas.   ...

When coal is carbonized coke is formed along with coal gas.                             1300 0 C          Coal                                  coke + coal gas

Is it necessary for blood to have less or more hemoglobin, Q. In high altit...

Q. In high altitudes is it necessary for the blood to have less or more hemoglobin? In high altitudes the oxygen concentration and air is rarefied is lower than in low altitude

Define the rehabilitation phase of spinal trauma disease, Define the Rehabi...

Define the Rehabilitation Phase of spinal trauma disease? Once the patient s condition stabilizes, individualized diets need to be recommended, based on the energy and nutrient

What is a population, What is a population? A population is a set of in...

What is a population? A population is a set of individuals of the similar species found in a given place in a given time.

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