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1500 questions
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Why is venom more common in fish and snakes than other vertebrates?
Reading this question, I wondered why is it that we associate vertebrate venoms so often with snakes and fish, and more rarely with lizards, amphibians, mammals, and birds (apparently never, in birds?).
Are venoms more advantageous for snakes and…
Oreotrephes
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What is the tRNA gene copy variation between different yeast strains?
I just started working on predicting steady-state protein levels from different codon usage bias measures. I have whole-genome sequences (it's NGS data) from different strains of S. cerevisiae and S. paradoxus and I began to wonder if it's possible…
Greg Slodkowicz
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What are the implications of tigers being susceptible to SARS-CoV-2?
It was recently reported that a handful of tigers and lions tested positive at the Bronx Zoo for SARS-CoV-2 (see here and here). Does this imply that the SARS-CoV-2 strain in humans mutated into a form that can infect these other species? I thought…
user2870171
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Why does scar tissue change color?
I was wondering why, when you are cold, scar tissue turns bluish or purple while original skin stays the same color.
The only thing I can think of, is that maybe scar tissue gets less circulation than regular skin, so when it gets cold it restricts…
johnny1bucket
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What are the difficulties/challenges against developing a coronavirus vaccine?
Multiple groups of scientists are trying to develop a coronavirus vaccine but they are not yet being fruitful. What challenges or difficulties are there in the process that slowing down and/or causing failure in development of vaccine?
Always Confused
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Human Immune Response to COVID-19 Virus
I have tried to find an answer to this but have not found anything after multiple attempts.
The question on the table is if the human body is able to produce an immune response to the COVID-19 virus if one has been exposed? This would apply most…
Michael Karas
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Hippos in infrared
Watching Netflix's "Night on Earth", I discovered that Hippos, or at least some Hippos, have quite a weird appearance in infrared. They seem to be covered by IR bright spots all over their body, possibly excluding their heads.
Something similar can…
user35915
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Why are bats the source of dangerous coronavirus pandemics?
Why do coronaviruses come from bats?
I mean, why precisely coronaviruses and not (for instance) herpesviruses?
It looks like bats host more zoonotic viruses (per species) than rodents, although they don't develop any sign of disease.
The article…
francesco
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Can UV radiation be safe for the skin?
It is well known that UV radiation can damage the DNA and generally harm our skin.
We also know that UV radiation helps on the production of melanin and Vitamin D.
From what I could find, the DNA absorption spectrum goes to almost zero for…
cinico
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Why is the bond between oxygen and iron in hemoglobin at a specific angle?
The bond between oxygen and iron in hemoglobin is usually drawn at an angle of about 120 degrees to the O=O bond. Why?
user3711
14
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4 answers
How long can a naked human survive on Mars?
How long can a naked human survive at the surface of the Mars planet?
For instance, let's say a worker's base takes fire while he sleeps, the building is totally ablaze and he can do nothing but run to the emergency building 200 meters away without…
nic
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What is the smallest molecule that can present as an antigen to the immune system in the context of allergies?
People often claim, in a colloquial sense, that they are "allergic to everything".
Is it possible to have a full-fledged IgE mediated allergic response to very small molecules? I was always under the impression that the smallest antigen was a…
jonsca
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Where is the line between Anaerobic and Aerobic?
I am well aware of traditional anaerobic respiration (lactic acid or alcohol produced - no Krebs cycle) and traditional aerobic respiration (O2 is used at the end of the Citric acid cycle).
I am wondering how to classify respiration that uses the…
Dale
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Why doesn't recombination occur in male Drosophila?
"Males do not show meiotic recombination, facilitating genetic studies."
For a while I have known that this phenomenon occurs, this quote comes from the Wikipedia page on Drosophila melanogaster, and I frequently use this feature of Drosophila in…
rg255
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Why can ATP not be stored in excess?
I just learned that ATP can not be stored in excess and is only made by the body when it is needed. What makes ATP, like glucose and fat is what is stored under the skin or wherever. Now why cant the body just produce ATP and store it for heavy,…
user2967
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