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1500 questions
16
votes
2 answers
Why was it so hard to decode the corn genome?
My teachers growing up told me it was impossible to decode the maize genome. But yet its been done.
Why was decoding the genome so significant, and what made it so difficult?
Gabriel Fair
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16
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4 answers
How can we differentiate between respiration and breathing?
I am a student of 10th grade, and I eagerly want to learn biology. What is the difference between respiration and breathing?
NigHterz
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16
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2 answers
Is blood regarded as an organ?
It consist approximately 7 percent of body weight.
By definition organ is composed of multiple tissues. Blood is a fluid, a circulating tissue.
Therefore can we call this fluid system a liquid organ?
kenorb
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16
votes
1 answer
Why do mushrooms grow in rings (sometimes called "Fairy Rings")?
Mushrooms disperse their spore in all direction. Then why is there a formation of fairy rings? Why do they grow in one shape and not randomly?
YAHB
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16
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2 answers
Can two protein secondary structures "overlap" in the PDB?
I have a technical question regarding the syntax in Protein Data Bank files. In the protein with PDB# 1AE9 (pdb file), there are two lines in the .pdb file:
HELIX 4 4 MET A 255 ILE A 265 1 11
SHEET 2…
Douglas S. Stones
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16
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2 answers
Why do we urinate more when we are nervous?
This question is a result of my personal experience... But I guess that is common for many of us.
My school timing is 8:00 am to 1:30 pm (usually). During normal school days I typically urinate one time - at most. Last month when we were having our…
Singh
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16
votes
1 answer
When running gels what is the difference between constant volts or constant amps?
In general, you want to be consistent with running your gels either at constant volts or constant amps. However, it is very clear that during the progression of both PAGE and agarose gels, the free parameter changes due to the change in resistance…
bobthejoe
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16
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1 answer
How can Valonia ventricosa cells get so big?
Valonia ventricosa are single-celled algae that range between one and few centimetres. In rare cases, they can reach sizes exceeding 5cm. They range from grass-green to dark green, and some are even a blackish colour.
Weirdly, a lot of the…
James
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16
votes
3 answers
How deep in the soil can a seed be placed and still develop into a plant/tree?
The selected answer to How does a plant grow before photosynthesis is possible? indicates that a sprout grows beneath the soil using the food stored within the seed.
Does this limited ready food place a restriction upon the depth to which a seed…
Everyone
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16
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1 answer
Why do dog's eyes glow green on a photo?
Taking my current profile picture as a prominent example:
This photo has been taken with flash. As I gather, this is the same effect that makes a human's eyes glow red on photos, namely the reflection of the flash at the choroid and then passing…
Vogel612
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16
votes
7 answers
Online Molecular and Cellular Biology Video Lectures?
I am looking for video lectures to go through to guide my reading in intro molecular and cellular biology. I've had intro bio and I study evolutionary theory, but my molecule- and cell-level knowledge is weak.
I'm finding it impossible to know…
Jamie Banks
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16
votes
2 answers
If human eyes watch an area, what's the shape of its capturing shape? Rectangular? Half spherical?
A normal camera can capture a rectangular image. If human eyes watch an area, what's the shape of the captured region? Rectangular? Half-spherical?
padman
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16
votes
2 answers
How to DIY preserve pet DNA today so that it can be used in 20 years
I know that there are companies that offer a kit+storage of your pet DNA for around $2k.
My question is if there is any other option for doing this yourself with a thought in mind that in 20+ years the technology will get so advanced that even this…
Registered User
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16
votes
1 answer
Why doesn't the cell membrane just...break apart?
Forgive me if this is a silly question. I can't understand the basics. Why doesn't the cell membrane just break apart? What's keeping the layers in the phospholipid bilayer together? I know that the membrane is embedded with proteins and lipids, but…
arao6
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16
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1 answer
Why do neurons die so quickly (relative to other cells) when deprived of oxygen?
This question could be considered a follow-up question to Why is a lack of oxygen fatal to cells?, although the top answer there does not address why damage starts to pop in.
The answer says this:
Neurons are also highly metabolically active, which…
InquilineKea
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