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 the parts of the microscope, Explain the Parts of the Microscope? ...

Explain the Parts of the Microscope? Microscope, as you may have noticed in Figure or for that matter even seen in a laboratory, is a metal body composed of a base and an arm t

Human development, Human Development Human development is a continuous...

Human Development Human development is a continuous procedure that begins when the ovum from a female is fertilised via sperm from a male to form the zygote. Growth and differ

Which are the organs affected by chronic chagas disease, Q. In the long ter...

Q. In the long term which are the organs affected by chronic Chagas' disease? In the chronic stage of Chagas' disease, that manifests years after the infection, the trypanosoma

Fat cow syndrome, F a t cow syndrome Fat cow syndrome, also known as ...

F a t cow syndrome Fat cow syndrome, also known as fatty infiltration of liver, is a highly fatal disease in high yielding dairy animals that occurs a few days before or afte

Chronic respiratory disease (crd), C h r on i c respiratory disease (C...

C h r on i c respiratory disease (CRD) Infection with Mycoplasma gallisepticum is characterized by slow onset; CRD is seen in chickens, turkeys, and other birds. Ducks f

Types of community, Types of Community On the basis of size and degree ...

Types of Community On the basis of size and degree of relative independence communities may be divided into two types: i) Major Community: These are large-sized, well org

Nyquist limit, The NYQUIST LIIMIT-It is a sampling phenomenon, which limit...

The NYQUIST LIIMIT-It is a sampling phenomenon, which limits the maximum fiequemcy shift measurement to one half of the sampling frequency (PRF). By its nature, pulse wave

State about the blood-aqueous barrier, State about the blood-aqueous barrie...

State about the blood-aqueous barrier There is a blood-aqueous barrier which prevents the movement of substances from the plasma to the aqueous humour. If there is a breakdown

Assessment - steps in nursing process, Assessment This includes the da...

Assessment This includes the data collection (nursing history and physical assessment), comparison of data with the normal, and analysis of the data gathered. Systematic an

Population distribution, Population Distribution - Population Parameters an...

Population Distribution - Population Parameters and Regulation Dispersion or distribution refers to the pattern of distribution of individuals of a population. As shown in Fig

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