Tag Archives: Chapter 16: The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

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"The key to Ion Torrent's Personal Genome Machine is a semiconductor chip that holds 1.5 million sensors, each of which can hold a single strand DNA fragment. The chip electronically detects the DNA sequence, unlike other sequencing machines that optically detect DNA with pricey lasers, microscopes, and cameras. It can sequence a DNA sample in a few hours, while other machines can take at least a week. And it can scale up fast."

“The key to Ion Torrent’s Personal Genome Machine is a semiconductor chip that holds 1.5 million sensors, each of which can hold a single strand DNA fragment. The chip electronically detects the DNA sequence, unlike other sequencing machines that optically detect DNA with pricey lasers, microscopes, and cameras. It can sequence a DNA sample in a few hours, while other machines can take at least a week. And it can scale up fast.” Via DIY DNA on a Chip: Introducing the Personal Genome Machine

The following videos account for the mayor topics discussed for our tests on March 18 (10H) and March 19 (AP Bio).

Anyone can benefit from any video, but keep in mind that the AP Bio course addresses more details of the DNA molecule. The first two videos are from Crash Course Biology, and account for DNA Structure, DNA Replication, mRNA transcription, and Protein Synthesis. These videos cover the specifics of 10th grade Bio:

DNA Structure and Replication

DNA Transcription & Translation

The next three videos are from Craig Savage. They discuss the same topics of the Molecular Basis of Inheritance, but with a closer look. AP Bio students will benefit more from these videos:

Introduction to Protein Synthesis

Transcription

Translation

The Olinguito: A New Species of Mammal is Unveiled.

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The discovery of a new mammal is a rare and exciting event in Biology.

The discovery of a new mammal is a rare and exciting event in Biology.

This racoon-like mammal–the first carnivore to be discovered in the last 35 years–was discovered not in the wild, but thanks to a collection of  South American racoon specimens that is available at the Smithsonian.

"D.C., Kristofer Helgen, curator of mammals at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, presented anatomical and DNA evidence that establish the olinguito (pronounced oh-lin-GHEE-toe) as a living species distinct from other known olingos."

“D.C., Kristofer Helgen, curator of mammals at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, presented anatomical and DNA evidence that establish the olinguito (pronounced oh-lin-GHEE-toe) as a living species distinct from other known olingos.”

“Though Helgen has uncovered dozens of unknown mammal species during previous expeditions, in this case, he did not set out to find a new species. Rather, he sought to fully describe the known olingos. But when he began his study in 2003, examining preserved museum specimens, he realized how little scientists knew about olingo diversity. “At the Chicago Field Museum, I pulled out a drawer, and there were these stunning, reddish-brown long-furred skins,” he said. “They stopped me in my tracks—they weren’t like any olingo that had been seen or described anywhere.” The known species of olingo have short, gray fur. Analyzing the teeth and general anatomy of the associated skulls further hinted that the samples might represent a new species. Helgen continued his project with a new goal: Meticulously cataloguing and examining the world’s olingo specimens to determine whether samples from a different species might be hidden among them.”–Via The Smithsonian.com.