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 xeno-transplantation, Explain Xeno-transplantation Xeno-transp...

Explain Xeno-transplantation Xeno-transplantation could enable individuals to survive and contribute their alleles to the gene pool who might not have already done so thus inc

The initial velocity of an enzyme catalyzed reaction, The initial velocit...

The initial velocity of  an  enzyme catalyzed reaction The mathematical relationship between  the initial velocity of  an  enzyme catalyzed reaction, the concentration of the s

Dietary management of oesophagitis, Q. Dietary Management fo oesophagitis? ...

Q. Dietary Management fo oesophagitis? Providing adequate nutrition support may require emphasis of different aspects during acute and chronic oesophagitis. In acute phase,

Define briefly about the seed proteins, Define briefly about the Seed Prote...

Define briefly about the Seed Proteins? Although a large number of plants produce seeds having protein contents in excess of 15%, only a few are utilized for food, eg. soybean,

Digestive system, Digestive system is one of eleven major body organ syste...

Digestive system is one of eleven major body organ systems in animals; it converts food from the external environment into the nutrient molecules which can be used and stored by t

Explain use of food additives - method of food preservation, Explain Use of...

Explain Use of food Additives - method of food preservation? Food additives may be defined as substances added intentionally to food, generally, in small quantities to improve

Explain about vitamin D, Vitamin D (Calciferol - vitamin D2) The main f...

Vitamin D (Calciferol - vitamin D2) The main forms are Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol-plant origin) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol-animal origin). Vitamin D2 forms colourless, aci

Echinoderms, Phylogenetic considerations

Phylogenetic considerations

Nutritional requirements of fats and oils during pregnancy, Define Nutritio...

Define Nutritional Requirements of Fats and Oils during Pregnancy and Lactation? ICMR (1990) recommends that linoleic acid requirements should be raised to 4.5 en% during pregn

Biological species concept, Q. Biological species concept? A biological...

Q. Biological species concept? A biological species as defined by Ernst Mayr are "groups of actually or potentially interbreeding natural populations which are reproductively

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