Viruses Viruses, viroids, and prions are all acellular pathogens. They are not within any kingdom and carry their own significant characteristics. obligate intracellular parasite – require a host to cause damage filterable – small enough to be filtrated contains an outer protein coat and inner genome has only 1 kind of nucleic acid (RNA or [...]

Recombinant DNA technology entails modifying the genomes of organisms. Things needed: mutagen – anything physical or chemical that causes mutations in an organism reverse transcriptase – these enzymes were discovered from retrovirses and its effects on DNA. Using reverse transcriptase, scientists are able to make DNA out of RNA.  These DNA are called complementary DNA [...]

Quick DNA Overview Deoxyribosenucleic acid, as you know in humans and in other eukaryotic organisms codes our chromosomes and makes us the way we are! Similarly, in prokaryotes, like bacteria, DNA makes up their genetic code or in other words what they are.  This includes their function and their appearance. Universally, DNA contains purines (adenosine, [...]

Similar to Gram stain, acid fast stain, and flagellar stain, capsule and spore stain are used to differentiate between microbes. Capsule Purpose: Our immune system contains neutrophils and macrophages that fight against foreign bodies or antigens. Capsules, which contains mucoid polysaccharides or polypeptides, protects bacterial cells against our immune system (macrophage and neutrophils). Capsules are [...]

Eukaryotic microbes consists of: protists, animals, fungi and plants. In this post, we will be looking at fungi (mostly molds and yeast), protozoan, and helminths. Fungi are organized into two categories: Ascomycotina (sac-like fungi such as penicillium, aspergillus, yeast) and zygomycotina (molds such as rhizopus stolonifer) Fungal Anatomy Yeast asexual reproduction- budding Molds asexual reproduction [...]

Currently Updating There are various ways in assessing DNA and its components. One widely used is electrophoresis, which utilizes electricity to measure the length of DNA fragments. This mechanism can be used for identification either for unknown diseases or human DNA, determining an inherited disease or finding cures for such diseases (National Health Museum). What [...]