What are you even doing here?

afracturedreality: Mechanism of DNA Replication During DNA...

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 05:19:40 -0400

Mechanism of DNA Replication

During DNA replication, both strands of the double helix act as templates for the formation of new DNA molecules. Copying occurs at a localized region called the replication fork, which is a Y-shaped structure where new DNA strands are synthesized by a multi-enzyme complex. Here the DNA to be copied enters the complex from the left. One new strand is leaving at the top of frame and the other new strand is leaving at bottom. The first step in DNA replication is the separation of the two strands by an enzyme called helicase. This spins the incoming DNA to unravel it: at 10,000 RPM in the case of bacterial systems. The separated strands are called three prime (3’) and five prime (5’), distinguished by the direction in which their component nucleotides join up. The 3’ DNA strand, also known as the leading strand, is diverted to a DNA polymerase and is used as a continuous template for the synthesis of the first daughter DNA helix. The other half of the DNA double helix, known as the lagging strand, has the opposite 3’ to 5’ orientation and consequently requires a more complicated copying mechanism. As it emerges from the helicase, the lagging strand is organized into sections called Okazaki fragments. These are then presented to a second DNA polymerase enzyme in the preferred 5’ to 3’ orientation. These sections are then effectively synthesized backwards. When the copying is complete, the finished section is released and the next loop is drawn back for replication. Intricate as this mechanism appears, numerous components have been deliberately left out to avoid complete confusion. The exposed strands of single DNA are covered by protective binding proteins. And in some systems, multiple Okazaki fragments may be present. The molecular reality is very different from the iconic image of the double helix neatly separating into two DNA copies as so often depicted.

Animation courtesy of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Cold Spring Harbor, New York, USA.

This is the second most important video of my entire educational career.

deathlehem: there’s a joke in hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy where (spoiler alert) one of the...

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 04:38:32 -0400

deathlehem:

there’s a joke in hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy where (spoiler alert) one of the mice says “now, to business” and zaphod and ford say “to business!” and clink glasses

and no matter what else happens in my life i will always think that’s the best joke ever written

zeekubeast: If you could make your own house motto and sigil,...

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 03:05:43 -0400

zeekubeast:

If you could make your own house motto and sigil, what would they be?

i think we can all relate to the motto of house bradley-west

ifansmarchog: taeyeon-9muses-rilakkuma-ohyeah: Clever way of...

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 01:27:21 -0400

ifansmarchog:

taeyeon-9muses-rilakkuma-ohyeah:

Clever way of getting his features in there

cr: thqys

awwwwwwwwww cute!

ensign-chevvy: starkid-scully-sherlock: you better chekov yourself before you wreckov...

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 01:42:30 -0400

ensign-chevvy:

starkid-scully-sherlock:

you better chekov yourself before you wreckov yourself

trek your privilege

internetsafety101: juicy fruit

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 15:37:46 -0400

internetsafety101:

juicy fruit

GAME OF THRONES IS TONIGHT EDITION

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 15:20:49 -0400

GAME OF THRONES IS TONIGHT EDITION

piebutt: kakkoiikarasu: oomshi: the future...

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 15:20:23 -0400

piebutt:

kakkoiikarasu:

oomshi:

the future of transportation

OMG

hoo hoo WHOOO hohohohWHOO WHOOO

b-ak3d: chronicdelight: My dad gives me this cake EVERY year...

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 22:40:13 -0400

b-ak3d:

chronicdelight:

My dad gives me this cake EVERY year on my birthday.

I’m gonna be that dad

cognitivedissonance: zooophagous: iraffiruse: Frozach...

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 22:29:21 -0400

cognitivedissonance:

zooophagous:

iraffiruse:

Frozach Submitted

I feel like this post changed my life

Indeed.

lickypickystickyme: The folks at Cakecrumbs are just pure...

Sat, 01 Jun 2013 00:40:34 -0400

lickypickystickyme:

The folks at Cakecrumbs are just pure genius.
I want this exact same cake for my birthday.
But that white inside part should be liquid white chocolate.