#double helix structure

[er-cryptid]

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[sysig]

Damned Masterpost

Original run

ZEX wasn’t there for that, Dex!

Getting started

Kissing Strangers 💋

Captain Dating Sim

If I become lost...

It started with a whisper

Perfect comedy routine

Flowers for you!

ZEX loves wild horse!

Dexter’s first visit

Pivotal bright spot

Sunshine Captain ☀️

But ZEX loves humans!

Uniform ♥

Hard learning curve

Big Guy Teisel

VUXisms

ZEX’s hair <3

Haunted by Kayako

Zelnick has two hands

Zelnick’s gone :(

ZEX’s MU (blood)

Them (blood)

Leaving weird impressions

Last man standing

Wake up somewhere better (blood)

Despite everything, he’s still ZEX

New Daay

DAX profile

DAX Expressions

VUX duo Expressions

Lover’s tiff Expressions

Action heroes Expressions (blood)

Roughed up VUX Expressions (blood)

Too busy flirting

The Little VUXmaid ---

What if DAX was there

DAX’s Special Counseling

Homesick

After ZEX’s MU

Hope we die (blood)

Max’s visit

Karaoke Night

The girlies are fightinnggg

Different sensibilities

ZEX’s hair, again

Protect him, please

VUXémon

The three of them

Wander I mean Dr. Doran

More Dr. Doran

“Wake up” configurations

More VUXémon ft. Larry and Kabu

Dismissed ---

First re-meeting ♥

Chill, Sub-Commander

Each other’s VUX

Pyramid Head fight (blood)

Dr. Vargas

VUX silliness

Therapy went great

Nightly squabbles

You must snuggle

Obeying commands

Locked In

Damned, but make it Osmosis Jones

Wants to fight so bad

Some familiar faces

Drix Uniform

Main three’s profiles

Other

Stanley profile speculations

Max wants out

Crystal Gem VUX

All those missing eyes

2024 Sketchdump

[drawingtutorialforkids]

DNA Drawing Step by Step | DNA Structure Pencil Drawing | How to Draw DNA Double Helix Structure

To learn DNA structure pencil drawing step by step easy method you should know how to draw DNA double helix structure and DNA double helix structure drawing. Have a look at how to draw DNA and DNA structure drawing with labels. So let's watch how to draw structure of DNA easily. DNA molecule structure drawing is the first step, 

I mean how to draw structure of DNA molecule and how to draw chemical structure of DNA. DNA  structure model drawing is the second step here. Focus on how to draw structure of DNA in easy method for class 12, class 10 and class 11. 

✅ SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/FarinKhanArtAcademy 

Step-by-Step Tutorial: 

How to Draw the DNA Structure: 

The representation of DNA structure can be represented as a simple or complex drawing. In this tutorial, we will show you how to draw the DNA structure in an easy way. 

Step 1: Guidelines. Draw two parallel lines to serve as the basis for the two DNA strands. They should not be perfectly straight, as DNA has a coiled structure. A slight curve or spiral is ideal. 

Step 2: Base Pairs. Draw small lines perpendicular to the two strands. These lines represent the base pairs that connect the two DNA strands. The base pairs should be evenly spaced along the two strands. 

Step 3: Twisting.g Begin to turn the two parallel lines and the base pairs into a spiral. You can tilt the small lines (base pairs) slightly to simulate the helical shape of DNA. 

Step 4: Three Dimensions To give the drawing a three-dimensional effect, you can draw the parallel lines and base pairs so that they slightly overlap or hide behind each other. 

Step 5: Sugar-Phosphate Backbone The two strands of DNA are often referred to as the sugar-phosphate backbone. To show this, you can draw small circles or squares along the two parallel lines. This shows the individual sugar and phosphate molecules. 

Step 6: Bases The base pairs are represented by the letters A, T, C, and G. If you want, you can place these letters near or on the small lines between the strands to represent the base pairs adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). 

Step 7: Shading Add shading to give the drawing more depth and realism. Shading can be applied along the sugar-phosphate backbone and base pairs. 

Step 8: Fine-tuning. Go over your drawing and add any details or adjustments you feel are necessary. Make sure the proportions are correct and the helix structure is clear. You've now successfully drawn a DNA structure! This tutorial provides a simple way to represent the complex features of DNA in an easy-to-understand format. You can make the drawing as detailed as you like by adding more molecules, bases, or even additional helices. 

Happy drawing! 

#scienceart #sscbiology #biologypractical #dna #stepbystepdrawing #drawing #drawingtutorial #art

[science-sculpt]

DNA: The Blueprint of Life

Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is not merely a scientific acronym; it is a magical blueprint that encodes the instructions for the development, functioning, and maintenance of all known living organisms. It stands as a remarkable thread that weaves the story of existence itself. The significance of DNA in understanding life's complexities cannot be overstated, as it holds the key to unraveling the mysteries of our very existence.

This double-helix structure, discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953, is truly a marvel of nature. It its core, DNA is a molecule with a mesmerizing structure. Its double helix, reminiscent of a delicate spiral staircase, consists of two strands entwined with each other. Composed of nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA, it is a symphony of adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). The specific arrangement of these nucleotides forms the unique code that dictates the genetic information for each organism.

DNA is the architect behind the breathtaking diversity of life on Earth. Each organism's DNA carries a distinctive code, akin to a fingerprint, responsible for its traits, characteristics, and behaviors. From the majestic redwood trees to the microscopic bacteria, the DNA blueprint is the guiding force shaping every living entity. The magical essence of DNA lies not only in its role as a blueprint but also in its capacity to adapt and evolve. Over eons, mutations and variations in DNA have paved the way for the astounding diversity of species. Natural selection, the driving force of evolution, acts upon the changes in DNA, allowing life to adapt to its environment and ensuring the survival of the fittest.

The importance of DNA extends far beyond its role in determining physical traits. In the realm of medicine, the understanding of DNA has opened doors to groundbreaking discoveries. Genetic research has unraveled the mysteries behind various diseases, paving the way for personalized medicine tailored to an individual's unique genetic makeup. From predicting susceptibility to diseases to developing targeted therapies, the study of DNA has become a cornerstone of modern healthcare. DNA's magical fingerprinting capability has revolutionized forensic science. The uniqueness of each individual's DNA profile has made it an invaluable tool in solving crimes and identifying individuals with unprecedented accuracy. DNA forensics has become a powerful ally in the pursuit of justice, revealing the hidden tales within the genetic code.

DNA, the magical thread connecting all living beings, holds the key to the past, present, and future of life on Earth. Its remarkable structure, intricate code, and capacity for adaptation make it a fascinating subject of study. As we continue to unlock the secrets encoded in our DNA, the magical blueprint of life promises to reveal even more wonders, offering new insights into our origins, our health, and the limitless possibilities of the biological world.

[gojosconsort]

“c’mon, doll, what’s the powerhouse of the cell?” toji asks as he stands behind you, one hand gripping a biology textbook, the other steadying your hip. you’re bent over the desk, panties shoved aside, his thick cock buried deep inside you, stretching you, but he’s still, maddeningly still, ignoring your needy whimpers. you’re soaked, clenching around him, but toji’s only giving you what you want when you earn it.

“um… mitochondria?” you gasp, mind foggy, hips twitching. he grins, thrusting once, hard, making you moan, desk creaking. “good girl,” he mutters, pulling back, cock unmoving again, leaving you aching. “next one. what’s the process where cells divide?” you whine, trying to grind back, but his hand pins you, firm. “answer,” he demands, flipping a page, voice teasing, “or i stay like this all night.”

“mitosis,” you say, arousal dripping down your thighs, and he rewards you, thrusting deep, slow, cock dragging against your walls, sending sparks through you. “fuck, you’re tight,” he groans, but stops, holding the book steady. “again. what’s dna’s structure?” your brain’s scrambling. “double… helix?” you guess, and he thrusts twice, rough, desk rattling, your moan loud. “that’s my smart girl,” but he’s still again, cock pulsing inside.

“toji, please,” you beg, but he chuckles, “wrong answer. try this—what’s the fluid in cells called?” you’re a mess, hips bucking, but he’s still not moving. “cytoplasm,” you cry, and he fucks into you, three hard thrusts, making you see stars, papers sliding off the desk. “fuck, you’re learning,” he growls, but pauses, book open. “one more, doll. what’s the sugar in dna?”

he keeps it up, question after question, each right answer earning a thrust, each wrong one leaving you aching, until you’re a needy mess, begging, “toji, i can’t—” he smirks, closing the book. “one more right, and i’ll fuck you stupid.”

[legodna]

Do you wanna build a Lego science set? Here's Lego DNA!

With a scientifically accurate DNA model, and a historically accurate lab + 5 scientists!

Aims: to promote science to kids and young adults and honor Rosalind Franklin and her legacy!

3,800 votes needed (we already have 6,200!) to get it considered as a real official Lego set to be sold worldwide!

If you like it, please support via the link above or here: https://ideas.lego.com/projects/c92cd95b-49e7-46ec-b844-ac6482c51139

[brooke121000]

hi! not sure if you’re still taking requests but your last fic was so incredible. i was wondering if you’d be down to do one that’s like, spencer loves to yap and nobody likes to listen but y/n is lowkey in love with him and always does. a friends to lovers type deal because she’s mesmerized by him and he’s mesmerized by the way she just hangs onto his every word, yk what i mean? if not it’s totally ok i just couldn’t get it out of my head after your last one! <3

S.L.A.N.T • s. reid

First of all, tysm for all the kind words!! Apologies for the wait, I’ve been swamped with school. I hope you enjoy! 🤍

word count: 1,076

———————————౨ৎ———————————

Spencer had never really felt listened to all his life.

His mind was a train, never faltering- chugging along faster than passerbys could observe it. He breezed through high school precociously, always filling bigger shoes and reading from books too heavy for him to carry. This intelligence, although alienating, provided him with a life long wealth of intelligence and a passion to learn-

And, of course, a passion to speak.

for most of his life, his words have fallen on deaf ears. Even amongst the team- a group of knowledgeable, experienced profilers, he’d grown used to eye rolls, yawns, and never-minds.

and then he met you.

You’re incredible. A match for his mind, in the first week at the BAU you beat his crossword record by a grand two seconds. You’re sweet, and beautiful, and so utterly comforting and familiar it leaves Spencer with an ache in his chest. Reminders of you are everywhere- he smells you in his coffee, hears you on crowded streets. You’re a splash of red wine on his shirt, a streak of technicolor in his black and white life.

And today, in the bullpen, he has your undivided attention.

You each sat at his desk in the dim nighttime office, the only two to stay this late.

Spencer was next you in his worn down office chair- he was reading, the Russian title unrecognizable to you. He had placed the book to the side when you two began to converse.

He looked up to you- you were sat on his desk, legs crossed.

“..your hands are shaking.” He said simply.

“oh-“ you smiled, pulling yourself back into your conversation and stretching out your weary legs. “yeah, it’s.. all the caffeine. I can’t help it, coffee’s in my DNA.”

He gave a nod. “You know we’ve never seen DNA? We’ve actually never seen the double-helix shape in person.”

Your ears perked up a little. Spencer entranced you. You were intelligent, that was no question. But the knowledge you had was largely to do with history and literature- his extensive experience in science and math was intensely impressive to you. You managed a simple- “really?”

“Mhm. We, well- James Watson and Francis Crick originally discovered the structure in 1953. DNA is just too small to see on a microscope, so they had to get..”

“Creative?” You added. He beamed.

“Creative, yeah. Exactly.”

You fidgeted with your pen, eyes glued to his as he spoke.

“Anyway, it was Rosalind Franklin who made the discovery. She used a special technique, called X-Ray crystallography.”

You cocked your head to the side- “and what’s that?”

“It’s.. well,” Reid has been caught a bit off guard. He was talking for so long, wrapped in the throes of his story, he didn’t realize how attentive you were to his words. He examined how you were sat, legs hanging off the side of his desk, eyes on his, clinging to every word and every sentence with a genuine interest and passion he had never seen before. It was mesmerizing how willing you were to hear what he had to say.

“It’s a special kind of microscopic photography where you beam X-Rays through the crystallized version of your substance.. you gotta use a special camera.”

“Hm..” you agreed. “So they did that, and took a.. picture of the DNA?”

He pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose, pausing for a moment. “um, sort of- the actual photograph- it’s called ‘photo 51’.. is actually more of a, uh.. blurry blob. But if you look closely, it sort of resembles a double helix- from the top, of course.”

“Wow, that’s.. really cool.”

He grinned. “You.. think so?”

“Absolutely.” You assured. “I mean.. other people are nice and all, but does Rossi, or.. Morgan.. do either of them know what the hell X-Ray crystallography is?” And let a laugh slip. “I think not.”

“Yeah, they.. probably don’t.”

A small, comfortable silence fell over you, and he observed you for a moment.

It was dark in the office, but your face was lit in a dim amber by his desk lamp. You spun a plain gold ring on your finger, your leg tapping against the desk. You looked so.. relaxed, so effortless. And yet, Spencer’s mind was churning.

“Thank you.” He remarked quietly.

“Hm?” You furrowed your brow in confusion. “Thank me for.. what?”

He turned his chair to meet your eyes, your faces closer than you had originally anticipated.

“for listening. I tend to.. ramble. After a while, I suppose people stop listening.”

You frowned. The thought of any singular idea in Spencer’s brilliant mind being dismissed as rambling was intensely troubling to you. “I think your rambling is cute. And besides- people who aren’t smart enough to understand your words tune you out because they’re overwhelmed. Their problem, I think. Not yours.” You murmured.

Spencer, still stuck on the first part of your sentence- looked up at you with hopeful eyes. “..you think im cute?”

You paused, and another silence washed over you two. You were painfully close, and the tension between you sparked from a sole ember to a lightly burning flame, soft and assuring.

You gave a little nod.

His eyes flickered down to your lips, and back up again.

And that look. Just that one look- pleading, hopeful brown eyes behind glasses was enough to bundle up and throw away any shred of resistance you had. Still sat on the desk, you leaned forward, your hands on the edge of the table, pressing an impatient but respectable kiss to his lips. It didn’t take long for him to reciprocate.

Placing his hands on the sides of your face, he pulled you in closer. The fire was stoked, warmth washing between the two of you as he tried against anatomical reason to pull your lips impossibly closer to his. you leaned in closer, hands on his wrists as his tongue slipped past your bruised lips- a silent plea for closeness. His fingers intertwined with your hair, but you didn’t mind the tugging sensation. Not with the fireworks going off in your chest.

When you pulled away you were both gasping for breath. His hands still on your face, the two of you so close you could feel his breath fan across your features. It was so painfully intimate- because there was no sexual intent behind the kiss. It was pure adoration, indulgence- a kiss solely for the purpose of kissing.

You were sure you looked a mess- partially because he did. Glasses fogged, hair tousled and face flushed, he adjusted his tie and sat up straight.

“Um.. tell me more about X rays.” You stammered.

“Yeah, yeah- good idea.” He grinned.

[ranticore]

slinky animal drawing as promised (from the alien poll, arboreal was the winning option)

i don't like the face completely phoned it in while also spending like 3 hours just going through several iterations of this head design until it was sort of ok to me but it still looks derivative so just ignore that part anyway i'm more happy about the body which i drew in 0.5 seconds and was immediately satisfied with

the body has two slinky abdomens linked by a central pelvic girdle with four legs. both slinky zones can expand and contract by hydraulic action (instead of muscular extension) in an internal organ which is shaped like a double helix. When expanded, it can be up to 4x longer, and each section can expand independently. This is a slow-moving animal and it uses this ability to slowly bridge the gap between trees and branches. It's very strong and can support its entire body extending out on just one set of legs

it has a pair of feelers which are tipped by a sticky pom pom and these shoot out to ensnare prey. The structures at the back of the body that resemble dandelion seeds are in fact a pair of reproductive structures which, when fully developed, break off and fly away, again like dandelion seeds. the other end has a sticky substance that develops over the space of a few hours to ensure that there's decent flight time to disperse them before they glue themselves to the first surface they touch. then they're encountered by another member of the species who fertilises them, breaks off the feathery bits, and carries around the rest of the structure in one of their front arms until it hatches into a bunch of young which then ride around on the parent's back.

they are found inland on the western continent of siren

[calebdatabase]

Caleb & MC Bound by DNA

My god first off I was crashing out while watching the trailer I'm so excited for more CALEB LORE! I remember asking for more Sci-Fi content on a survey and they delivered! Soooo many incredible feelings, so I wanted to follow up on my Caleb as Donor 002 post.

Now we know that Caleb and MC were created from the same 'source' as he literally stated in the trailer. Seems it wasn't far-fetched to draw a connection between Eve being created from Adam's rib!

Taking a closer look at the structure of the DNA helix, I interpret 'source' as they are Cyborgs birthed from the same 'energy source'. The helix appears mechanical in nature with rippling energy currents.

It appears, in this new timeline, Caleb and MC are bound by their very DNA; his myth trailer included imagery of a metal double helix and the following text:

"The enigma behind the double metal helix... The promise you had since you were born."

"But the promise we've had since we were born, I kept that one." - Caleb to MC

Again, there is this imagery of being bound at birth, similar to how twins are (I mentioned the symbolism of twins/siblings and how they're often experimentation victims of Ever in the Donor 002 post). In this case, perhaps they are cyborg clones of the same energy core.

And if you're a Potterhead, you'll see that its a concept remniscent of Harry's and Voldemort's twin Phoenix Feather wand cores. One cannot survive without the other, both must die for one to be vanquished.

Twins, clones, whatever you want to call it**—** it's a pattern you can't deny, and now I'm convinced in the present timeline, Caleb and her are linked in more ways than they appear to be.

Also love how Caleb x MC haters got their panties in a twist and Infold was literally like 'LET ME SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU' *drops myth trailer* Kudos to them for sticking with the planned lore and remaining unfazed by the initial controversy. They had to prime everyone before dropping this, and the ones who get it, get it.

"Then it's a promise. In life and in death, we will never be apart."

You can't tell me these aren't their literal wedding vows HAHA I'm sickkk. Caleb basically said: 'Till death do us part? I think not..' The look in his eyes is so intense too like damn ok i'm all yours for eternity my dude.

I think the promise they made when they were born refers to his promise to protect her always. It's a call back to their childhood memories about Caleb protecting her like a ring system protects its planet; they are born together and they die together.

Here's my thoughts on their A-01 and X-02 titles:

Caleb was distinctively labeled Donor 002 while MC was labeled Subject 001 in old experiment documents by Gaia and Ever.

In Caleb's very first intro trailer and his new myth trailer, his title is X-02. Respectively, MC is A-01. They are a pair represented by the concepts of Death and Rebirth, the ideal weapons to destroy one another, as we're all aware.

'A' may represent 'Alpha' in the concept of 'Alpha and Omega' aka the 'Beginning and the End'. MC can miraculously revive after dying via her Aether Core and can only be fully destroyed (and by proxy reborn) by the power Caleb wields.

'X' is associated with 'with death and rebirth, as it is thought to mark the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. It is also often seen as a symbol of change or transition, as it represents the crossing of a threshold.'

Pretty straightforward. All I experience is pain with these two, and I. Need. More.

In honor of Caleb's myth dropping, I'm gonna post my embarrassingly long Supernova theory on the pair soon since I gleaned more insight from the myth trailer tidbits. Now I'm not sure if I should wait until reading his myth so I can go back and edit or just release it as is.

Might have to split it up into a few posts with their own section so its digestible lmao. It's been a couple months in the making and while it includes the scientific concepts explained in the Bound by Gravity, United in Resonance video, I also weaved it into the lore and the direction of Caleb's story. I've been a full believer in the Supernova Catalyst theory since Caleb was released and I'm excited to share my thoughts on them so stay tuned (his eyes are literal supernovas)!

My tumblr is Caleb Database and I plan to post more fun things like fics, lore theories, and fanart (I've already got one fic and two lore posts up). I'm also obsessed with Star Wars and Harry Potter, so you're likely to see some AU's of Caleb in these realms...

[the-real-sasuke-uchiha]

Brace yourself guys, I come here today with official evidence that Sarada is not my daughter, and, in fact, she might even not be human.

I am talking about Boruto Ending 2 Sayonara Moon Town, accessible here <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V95jQXG5bI>. In this ending we see what appears to be Sarada's DNA:

Now, let's talk about double helices. They can turn to the left or to the right, as this Wikipedia image illustrates:

a) is right-handed, b) is left-handed. The double helix in the ending is the B, the left-handed.

But, thing is, except weird, transient forms, normal DNA turns to the RIGHT. Here is a DNA diagram from Watson and Crick's paper

(Watson, J. D., & Crick, F. H. (1953). Molecular structure of nucleic acids: a structure for deoxyribose nucleic acid. Nature, 171(4356), 737-738.)

So, all in all, Sarada is an alien, her DNA is not from this planet.

Or our dear animators need some scientist advisor

Have a great day and sorry for the nerd.

[drawingtutorialforkids]

DNA Drawing Step by Step | DNA Structure Pencil Drawing | How to Draw DNA Double Helix Structure

To learn DNA structure pencil drawing step by step easy method you should know how to draw DNA double helix structure and DNA double helix structure drawing. Have a look at how to draw DNA and DNA structure drawing with labels. So let's watch how to draw structure of DNA easily. DNA molecule structure drawing is the first step, I mean how to draw structure of DNA molecule and how to draw chemical structure of DNA. DNA  structure model drawing is the second step here. Focus on how to draw structure of DNA in easy method for class 12, class 10 and class 11. 

✅SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/FarinKhanArtAcademy 

Step-by-Step Tutorial: 

How to Draw the DNA Structure: 

The representation of DNA structure can be represented as a simple or complex drawing. In this tutorial, we will show you how to draw the DNA structure in an easy way. 

Step 1: Guidelines. Draw two parallel lines to serve as the basis for the two DNA strands. They should not be perfectly straight, as DNA has a coiled structure. A slight curve or spiral is ideal. 

Step 2: Base Pairs. Draw small lines perpendicular to the two strands. These lines represent the base pairs that connect the two DNA strands. The base pairs should be evenly spaced along the two strands. 

Step 3: Twisting.g Begin to turn the two parallel lines and the base pairs into a spiral. You can tilt the small lines (base pairs) slightly to simulate the helical shape of DNA. 

Step 4: Three Dimensions To give the drawing a three-dimensional effect, you can draw the parallel lines and base pairs so that they slightly overlap or hide behind each other.

Step 5: Sugar-Phosphate Backbone The two strands of DNA are often referred to as the sugar-phosphate backbone. To show this, you can draw small circles or squares along the two parallel lines. This shows the individual sugar and phosphate molecules. 

Step 6: Bases The base pairs are represented by the letters A, T, C, and G. If you want, you can place these letters near or on the small lines between the strands to represent the base pairs adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). 

Step 7: Shading Add shading to give the drawing more depth and realism. Shading can be applied along the sugar-phosphate backbone and base pairs. 

Step 8: Fine-tuning. Go over your drawing and add any details or adjustments you feel are necessary. Make sure the proportions are correct and the helix structure is clear. You've now successfully drawn a DNA structure! This tutorial provides a simple way to represent the complex features of DNA in an easy-to-understand format. You can make the drawing as detailed as you like by adding more molecules, bases, or even additional helices. Happy drawing! 

 #scienceart #sscbiology #biologypractical #dna #stepbystepdrawing #drawing #drawingtutorial #art

[mindblowingscience]

Researchers have mapped 50,000 of DNA's mysterious "knots" in the human genome. The innovative study of DNA's hidden structures may open up new approaches for treatment and diagnosis of diseases, including cancer. DNA is well-known for its double helix shape. But the human genome also contains more than 50,000 unusual knot-like DNA structures called i-motifs, researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have discovered. Published today in The EMBO Journal is the first comprehensive map of these unique DNA structures, shedding light on their potential roles in gene regulation involved in disease.

Continue Reading.

[recherchestetique]

The staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci in 1516 AD, is located in the Château de Chambord in France.

It is a double-helix structure, featuring two spirals that ascend the central tower without intersecting, allowing people to go up and down simultaneously without meeting. This innovative design exemplifies Leonardo's mastery of engineering and architectural principles.

The staircase was commissioned by King Francis I, who invited Leonardo to France in his final years. It remains one of the most remarkable examples of Renaissance architecture, showcasing Leonardo's genius and the grandeur of French royal residences.

Credit: ArchaeoHistories

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: The Human Body

A Quick & Simplified Guide: On Cells & DNA

CELL

The basic unit of life

You are made up of about 30 trillion of them

Don’t all look the same: A red blood cell looks nothing like a spleen cell, which looks nothing like a cell in the skin of your eyelid. That’s because they each have very different jobs.

But they still share some basic parts:

Nucleus - heart of the cell

Golgi apparatus - packages up proteins and labels them so they get to the right place; "the cell's post office"

Mitochondria - the cell's power generators. Like cars, you run on "fuel" too. It's called ATP (adenosine triphosphate). They do almost all the work of turning the energy from your food into ATP. Without the "fuel", the cell would die.

Endoplasmic reticulum - makes proteins that the cell needs in order to keep doing its job

To survive, cells need:

Food - especially sugars, which contain the energy that is turned into ATP

Oxygen - vital for turning the energy in sugars into ATP

Water - needed inside each cell for nutrients to move into and around it

3 Types of Waste (when making ATP from food)

Carbon dioxide - which you breathe out

Ammonia - after a bit of tweaking by your liver, this chemical passes out in your urine

Water - any water that your cell does not need eventually ends up in your blood, and exits your body in urine, feces, sweat, and breath

How "Big" is your Body?

Though your cells are tiny, they can join together to make big structures. In fact, unpacked, your body is enormous:

A pair of lungs, smoothed out, would cover a tennis court.

If you unravelled the airways within your lungs and laid them in a line, they would stretch from London to Moscow.

In the same way, all of the blood vessels (the veins and arteries and smaller blood-bearing tubes) in your body would stretch two and a half times round planet Earth.

DNA is extremely thin. You’d need 20 billion strands of it, laid side by side, to make the width of the thinnest human hair. But you have so much of it, and so many cells, that if you formed all that DNA into a single strand, it would reach 10 billion miles across the solar system, to Pluto and beyond. Think of it: there is enough of you to exit the solar system. You are, in the most literal sense, cosmic.

DNA

The "instruction manual" for making you.

Almost every single cell in your body has two copies of that manual:

The Double Helix

DNA - made up of two strands connected by rungs, making a kind of twisted ladder called a double helix

Stored inside the nucleus of the cell, in packages called chromosomes

Within your DNA are short sections called genes

A gene is a code that tells the cell how to make a particular protein

Most of the useful things in your body are proteins:

Some speed up helpful chemical changes going on inside you. Others are needed to fight harmful invaders. And others make up bits of virtually all your body parts, including your muscles, your bones and your brain cells.

Different DNA

Your DNA is unique to you (assuming you don't have an identical twin)

Yet in all humans, 99.9% of the DNA is the same.

This makes us all nearly identical.

But my DNA and your DNA will still differ in three to four million places.

Given the massive amount of DNA you have, this is quite a small number, but it’s enough to make a lot of difference between us.

Where does DNA come from?

Almost all of your cells contain 23 pairs of chromosomes.

One of each pair came from your biological mother, and one came from your biological father.

Your DNA is, therefore, a mixture of your parents’ DNA.

But you’ll also have about a hundred of your very own personal genetic mutations.

These are stretches of DNA that don’t quite match any of those given to you by either of your parents – they are yours alone.

Some people have an unusual number of chromosomes.

For example, people with Down syndrome have an extra copy of chromosome 21.

DNA is extremely stable:

Probably nothing you own right now – no item of clothing or game or even computer – will still exist a thousand years from now, but your DNA almost certainly will.

Incredibly, scientists recently managed to get genetic information from a human fossil that was 800,000 years old.

Source ⚜ Writing Notes & References

[legodna]

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[rjzimmerman]

The sharks can swim down to depths of 7,000 feet, and grow to be the size of car. Their massive size hasn’t stopped humans from fishing them, though. (nuit of Greenland, Canada and Iceland have hunted the sharks for decades to use oil from their livers PHOTOGRAPH BY SERGIO RICCARDO

Excerpt from this National Geographic story:

For humans, puberty hits after around a decade. But Greenland sharks have to wait well over 100 years. A century-long childhood might seem like science fiction, but Greenland sharks are the longest-living vertebrate on Earth, with lifespans thought to stretch to around 400 years. These fish spend centuries diving deep into frigid Arctic and Northern Atlantic waters, where they reach massive sizes by growing roughly a centimeter a year. The largest fully grown Greenland sharks can be longer than a Toyota Prius and weigh over 2,000 lbs.

Normally, an animal can’t grow so old. Over time, declining bodily functions and illnesses like cancer accumulate and take their toll.  Yet the Greenland shark seems to defy this pattern, meaning it must have evolved genetic tools to stave off age-related diseases.  

Recently, scientists have gotten some new genetic clues to their longevity. And while the new findings won’t translate to humans living to age 400, they are giving scientists tantalizing blueprints for how we might maintain health longer into our lives.

If a genome were a book of instructions, DNA would be the words and genes would be paragraphs. For the first time, the team put together the Greenland sharks’ entire book –– their chromosomal genome. They found the  book is about twice as thick as a human’s, clocking in at 22,634 genes and around 6.45 billion base pairs. Base pairs form the rungs of a DNA strand’s double helix structure—the individual letters on a ‘page’ of DNA.

Once they had the completed genome, the team began to look for clues behind the sharks’ extreme lifespan. One element that stood out was a high amount of “jumping genes,” or transposons. Most organisms, including humans, have transposons: genes that duplicate themselves into a new section of a genetic sequence. They can introduce genetic diversity, but can also be harmful if the genes’ new placement disrupts the rest of a sequence. It’s like copying and pasting a phrase from somewhere else into the middle of a sentence, rendering it nonsensical, Sahm says.

But these transposons might play a more beneficial role in the Greenland shark. Many of the Greenland shark’s duplications included genes that were linked to DNA repair. So instead of creating a disruption, they may have created additional helpful genes, which could hypothetically slow down aging. If DNA is left damaged, it can contribute to problems within cells, including cancer.  Researchers think the better a genome is maintained, the longer lifespan an organism could have.