Molecular Biology

The use of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has revealed that each chromosome occupies a distinct nuclear territory and that the 3D positioning of chromosomes correlates with chromosome size and gene density.   “Think about it, where larger chromosomes should reside, where gene poor chromosomes can be, what kind of chromosomes should occupy centre of […]

Hallmarks of ALT are heterogeneity of telomere lengths, circular telomeric DNA, and the association between telomeres and the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein. This protein was first discovered as the product of the PML gene, which fuses with the RARα gene in the t(15;17) chromosomal translocation. This chromosomal abnormality causes the human acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL),

Cryptic genetic variation (CGV) is invisible under normal conditions but fuel for evolution when circumstances change. In theory, CGV can represent a massive cache of adaptive potential or a pool of deleterious alleles in need of constant suppression. CGV emerges from both neutral and selective processes and it may inform how human populations respond to

Argonaute protein is involved in RNAi, it recognizes and binds to siRNA duplex, cleaves and removes passenger strand, and allows guide strand to scan target mRNA. Argonaute (AGO) proteins have 4 discrete folding units: N-terminal: Acts as a wedge. PAZ domain: contains a binding pocket, anchors the 2-nucleotide 3′ overhang of siRNA like duplex. MID

Intracellular ratio of rNTP/ dNTP is very high. DNA polymerase: It actively discriminates against rNTPs via a “STERIC gate” formed by the Glu and Phe side chains, which excludes 2′-OH group of rNTP. But because of high concentration of rNTPs, they still get incorporated into DNA by Pol δ and ε. rNTP incorporation rate is