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

Rna editing, RNA  editing  is  the  name  given  to  several  reactions  wh...

RNA  editing  is  the  name  given  to  several  reactions  whereby  the  nucleotide series  on an mRNA  molecule  should  be modified  by mechanisms  other  than RNA  splicing.  T

Define metabolic response to food - requirement of energy, Define Metabolic...

Define Metabolic response to food - Requirement of Energy? Eating requires energy for the ingestion and digestion of food, and for the absorption, transport, inter conversion,

Echinococcosis (hydatidosis), Echinococcosis (hydatidosis) Echinococco...

Echinococcosis (hydatidosis) Echinococcosis, also called hydatidosis, is a global problem particularly in countries where sheep and cattle raising forms the major animal husba

Nitrogen cycle, Nitrogen Cycle The nitrogen is an essential constituen...

Nitrogen Cycle The nitrogen is an essential constituent of protein - the building block of all living cells. It is also a major constituent of the atmosphere (79 per cent). Al

What is the single tooth implant case, In Single Tooth Implant Case: a)...

In Single Tooth Implant Case: a) Vertical distance available between the crest of residual ridge to the opposing occlusal surface. At least 7 mm space is required to a cementab

Give the causative organism of bacillary dysentery, Give the causative orga...

Give the causative organism and symptoms of Bacillary Dysentery • Bacillary dysentery is caused by  Shigella sp. (Shigella sonnei, S. dysenteraei). Incubation period is

What are heterochromatin and euchromatin, Chromatin is uncondensed nuclear ...

Chromatin is uncondensed nuclear DNA, the typical DNA morphology in interphase (the phase of the cell cycle in which the cells is not separating itself). In this phase of the cell

Rough and smooth endoplasrnic reticulum, Rough and Smooth Endoplasrnic Reti...

Rough and Smooth Endoplasrnic Reticulum (RER and SER) ER is differentiated into two regions, granular or rough endoplasrnic reticulum (RER) and agranular or smooth endoplasrni

Explain pure culture techniques, Explain Pure Culture Techniques We lea...

Explain Pure Culture Techniques We learnt the techniques involved in sub-culturing, i.e., the process involved in transfer of culture from one medium to another or transfer of

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