BiocheminsiderThe endoplasmic reticulum is the major site of synthesis in the cell. It is a system of flattened sacs (cisternae) that are continuous with the outer nuclear envelope. Its physiological function has a very close association with that of the Golgi apparatus and together, they form the secretory pathway of the cell. The endoplasmic reticulum is classified as either rough … Read more
What is Fick’s law of diffusion? Fick’s law of diffusion explains the diffusion process (movement of molecules from higher concentration to lower concentration region). In 1855, Adolf Fick described the Fick’s Law of Diffusion. A diffusion process that obeys Fick’s laws is called normal diffusion or Fickian diffusion. A diffusion process that does NOT obey Fick’s laws … Read more
Modulus of rigidity is the ratio of shear stress to the corresponding shear strain within the proportional limit of a material. Modulus of rigidity is also known as shear modulus and rigidity modulus values of materials are determined by torsional tests. Modulus of rigidity formulas are G = τ/γ and G = E/(2(1+v)). Here τ … Read more
Poisson’s Ratio is defined as the ratio between the lateral contraction (expansion) strain to the longitudinal extension (contraction) strain when an object is subjected to an external tensile (compressive) force along its longitudinal axis. When a solid bar is subjected to tensile force along its longitudinal axis, the length of the bar increases in the direction of application of … Read more
Biodiversity is a measure of the complexity of interactions in a given habitat or ecosystem. The greater the number of species and number of interactions/complexity, the greater the biodiversity and ability of an ecosystem or habitat to survive and adapt to environmental pressures. Ecological productivity is a measure of the rate of generation of biomass … Read more
Vertebrates are animals that have a backbone inside their body. The major groups include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Invertebrates don’t have a backbone. They either have a soft body, like worms and jellyfish, or a hard outer casing covering their body, like spiders and crabs. ELEMENTS OF COMPARISON VERTEBRATES INVERTEBRATES Description Vertebrates … Read more
What is Parenchyma? Parenchyma is a plant, tissue typically composed of living cells that are thin-walled, unspecialized in structure, and therefore adaptable, with differentiation, to various functions. The cells are found in many places throughout plant bodies and, given that they are alive, are actively involved in photosynthesis, secretion food storage, and other activities of plant life. Parenchyma cells can serve many functions. … Read more
What Is a Zygote? Zygote is a single cell that results from the fertilization of an egg by a sperm. It is also known as a fertilized egg or an embryo. The zygote divides to form a ball of cells called a blastocyst, which in turn divides to form the baby and other structures in … Read more
Neurons are specialized cells that transmit chemical and electrical signals in the brain; they are the basic building blocks of the central nervous system. The primary components of the neuron are the soma (cell body), the axon (a long slender projection that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body), dendrites (tree-like structures that receive … Read more