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What is Sex Linkage?

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  Thomas H. Morgan Thomas H. Morgan, in 1910, with his experiments on the Drosophila fruit fly came across these genes that are specifically linked to the sex determining chromosomes of organisms. Therefore, these genes would inherit with the sex chromosomes resulting in the vivid phenotypic variations that we see between the different sexes of various organisms but also diseases. X and Y Chromosomes of Humans . What are sex chromosomes? In humans, we have 23 pairs of chromosomes in every single living cell of our body. The 23rd pair is called the sex chromosome pair, which determines whether you are a female or a male. The XX sex chromosome pair result in a female while the XY pair result in a male. In addition to sex determination, they also contain genes that express several male and female traits and traits not related to sex. What are sex linked genes? Genes that are linked to the sex chromosomes in organisms are called sex linked genes. Sex linked genes can be foun...
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Hyaluronic acid

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  In the previous article we talked about Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). We discussed 6 types of GAGs and out of the 6, Hyaluronic acid is one which deserves a separate article.  Hyaluronic acid is the largest out of the 6 GAGs that is composed of the highest number of repeating disaccharide units. The disaccharide unit is composed of ,as any other GAG, a Uronic acid and an amino sugar.  The Uronic acid is a Glucuronic acid and the Amino sugar is a N-acetylglucosamine compound. From the image below you can get an idea as to the structure of these two compounds,   The 2 compounds are bonded together by a 𝛃 (1-3) Glycosidic linkage and each unit is bonded together by 𝛃 (1-4) Glycosidic linkages forming a long chained heteropolysaccharide . These chains are visible in an electron micrograph of a proteoglycan aggregate extracted from a cartilage specimen. Now, what is a Proteoglycan aggregate? Hyaluronic acid is known to be a GAG which doesn't bond with a Core protein to...
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Glycosaminoglycans

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What gives the tensile strength and the resistance for compressional forces observed in Cartilages, Tendons and Ligaments? What maintains the shape of the Eye? From constituting heart valves to maintaining the flexibility of skin …. what is involved?  LETS FIND OUT. There are  4 basic types of tissues,  Epithelial Tissue - are tissues that line surfaces found within animals Muscle Tissue - are groups of cells that construct the muscles of animals Nerve Tissue - are responsible for building up the nervous system Connective Tissue - is responsible in maintaining and supporting all other tissues The spotlight of this article  goes to Connective Tissue. As this is a type of tissue that has the ability to connect other tissues and maintain their structure and function and even provide them with the nutrition needed.  Connective tissue is composed of two components, Cells and the Extra-Cellular Matrix (ECM) which is secreated by the cells. The ECM is composed of 4 com...
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Carbohydrates 3 - Polysaccharides

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  Let us understand what polysaccharides are , using 2 common examples of Polysaccharides, Cellulose and Glycogen.   Cellulose Have you ever wondered how leaves, stems and roots of plants maintain their structure?   What help plants to create that rigid structure and give each plant their own unique shape? What gives them that immense strength to grow to such heights? And not to forget how does it protect itself from all that is deemed harmful to it? Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide and the most abundant organic compound in the world and accounts for over ½ of the C in the biosphere. It is a primary structural component of plant cell walls. It is one of the main components responsible for all mentioned above. Its structural formula is as follows, It is composed of a linear chain of β – glucose molecules linked together by β ( 1 – 4 ) glycosidic linkages . n = 15,000 β – D – glucose molecules   Several such cellulose chains which are posi...
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Carbohydrates 2 - Disaccharides Ⅱ

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Other examples of Disaccharides are,  1. Maltose 2. Lactose Glucose + Galactose        →             Lactose     Glucose + Glucose            →                Maltose Functions ·             1.  Sucrose acts as the transporting medium in plants (during phloem translocation). ·              2.  Lactose is found in milk and it act as a great source of energy and nutrients. ·            3.  Maltose is found in germinating plant seeds and act as a source of energy for the growing plant. Testing for Reducing and Non-reducing sugars -  the test which we can use to identify the presence of monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides. Stable monosaccharides such as pentoses and hexoses (furans and pyrans) they exist in an ...
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