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1500 questions
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Is the discovery of dominant and recessive genes the only reason Mendel matters?
We've known that offspring inherit various traits from their parents since (at least) Aristotle. In The Elements of Plant Hybridization, Gregor Mendel treats that fact as common knowledge. Clearly, we don't credit Mendel with discovering it.…
Hal
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What is happening when we get a tan?
Almost everyone nowadays wants that nice summer tan, but what exactly is going on beneath the skin? I've heard a few different theories about tanning - such as a tan is nothing but the pigmentation in your cells burning, but is this true?
My…
SolarLunix
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Can a lizard shed a regrown tail again?
Some lizards are famous for their ability to voluntarily shed their tail to elude predators (Autotomy). After a while, the tail will be regenerated, though with slightly different qualities, as visible in this photograph:
(source)
My question: Can…
user6890
12
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What is the transmembrane 'Positive-Inside Rule' nowadays? Has the definition changed over time?
First definition.
Two publications by von Heijne in 1989 and 1992 coined the 'Positive-Inside rule' and showed it's practical value in topology prediction of transmembrane helices. It was clearly defined and evidenced that in bacteria the positively…
James
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What is the scientific name of this plant?
I found this one on a hill here in Palestine. It's about 20 cm in height. Note that it does exist in this regions, but scantily.
Blackbeard
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What distinguishes "coding" from "noncoding" DNA?
I've been reading a bit about "junk DNA" and how much of our genome consists of this "non coding DNA" in comparison to "coding DNA".
I'm just an interested layperson but I thought all combinations of three base pairs encoded one amino acid, with…
hippietrail
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How sterile is sterile when working with nucleic acids to prevent contamination?
I am reading up on preparatory work on working with nucleic acids and a lot of the instructions speak on excessive procedures on cleaning environments with high %ethanol and making sure the equipment is nuclease free, and autoclaved.
Are these…
Ro Siv
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12
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Does breath-holding cause permanent brain damage?
My question is: Does voluntarily holding your breath at atmospheric pressure for a few minutes can cause brain damage? I'm talking about periods of time around 3 minutes.
I've read there are some studies showing brain damage in deep-water divers.…
user4592
12
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2 answers
When is Water Produced During Photosynthesis?
The formula for photosynthesis is: $$6CO_2+12H_2O \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6+6O_2+6H_2O$$
I can count the carbons, the waters on the reactant side, the oxygens, and the glucose, but I cannot seem to locate where in either light or dark reaction 6…
lightweaver
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What are the survival limitations of alcohol?
This question was inspired by watching one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies; particularly where Jack Sparrow allegedly survives on a desert island by finding an unlimited supply of rum. I've heard alcoholic drinks dehydrate you more than…
WannabeCoder
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Biostatistics: Pollen dispersal directionality
What Information am I looking for?
Think about a tree that is sending pollen all over the place. Because of wind, most pollen grain will go toward one direction. Imagine, we split the 2D area around the tree where pollen grains fall into two half…
Remi.b
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Why are restriction enzymes not frozen?
We all know restriction enzymes are proteins, but we never freeze them. They are instead provided in high glycerol containing solutions by companies and stored at -20C. Is there a reason why this is so?
gkadam
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Salmon returning to lay eggs
To spawn, salmon return to the river in which they were born. Is it because the individuals remember the specific river, or because populations are genetically conditioned to follow specific environmental cues that guide them to the specific…
Andrei
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Is there a program that simulates biology on a molecular level?
Is there a computer program that simulates biology on a molecular level? Software that has rules that simulates the rules of molecular-biology?
David Walz
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Is it possible for a human to wake up in a wrong way?
There's an old folk saying that goes like "He got out of bed on a wrong foot" - to indicate that the person's day is going poorly because of the way that person woke up.
Is it is possible for a human to disrupt the awakening process, causing…
Alex Stone
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