Essays on Bioluminescence

Panther I.D.:

“The expression of ampicillin resistance and luciferase enzyme genes by E. coli transformation using the pUC18 and lux plasmids” Abstract The transformation process allows the uptake of DNA from the environment, with the incorporation and expression of genes. During this process, changes in the DNA of the receptor cell occur, producing some selective advantages in some cases, such as resistance to antibiotics. pUC18 and lux plasmids were used to determine the transformation process in Escherichia coli. Cells were made competent by the addition of calcium chloride and heat shock in order to induce the incorporation of the ...

Introduction

There are environmental chemical processes which require light to react. These processes are called photochemical reactions. Photochemical reaction is commonly initiated due to the absorption of solar energy or light. When molecules absorb energy in the form of light, the atoms are converted in a transient excited state (Larson & Weber, 1994). This transition state or excited has completely different physical and chemical properties with the initial state of the molecule. The excited states also have more tendencies to react since they are considered stronger acids and stronger reductants that the initial state of the molecule. The excited state of ...

Posttranslational Mechanisms Regulate the Mammalian Circadian Clock

The issue of interest in these three research topics is the Circadian Clock. The first article, ‘Posttranslational Mechanisms Regulate the Mammalian Circadian Clock’ examines the posttranslational regulation of this clock in the liver of a mouse. The study published in this article used the mPER1 and the mPER2 proteins, the BMAL1 and the CLOCK proteins to show their significance in the stabilization of phosphorylated mPER2 proteins by the mCRYs. This article shows the Circadian rhythms to be greatly influenced by the biological clocks in the mammalian bodies. The timing system in mammals for example, is shown to be organized in a ...