Hereditary diseases Hereditary diseases are diseases that follow inheritance patterns within families. Since there is inherent difficulty in studies of heredity in humans (due to the impossibility of controlling crosses, long generation time and small number of offspring), the study of hereditary diseases is done through the construction and analysis of an ‘heredogram’. Alternatively, studies […]

Homologous Genes definition Homology derives from the Greek homos (equals) and logos (relation) and refers to the relation existing between two structures (of different species) that share a common ancestor. Definition of homologous genes is based on the same, which states that two genes are homologous when their DNA sequence derives from a common origin, and […]

Interferons are important components of the immune system that trigger cellular defences in response to infection by viruses or bacteria and tumour formation (…)

Intermediate Filaments definition Intermediate Filaments refers to filaments of fibrous proteins that form the cytoskeleton and give strength and mechanical strength to cells. Cytoskeleton Cytoskeleton is present in virtually all cells and is the cellular constituent responsible for maintaining cell’s shape and assisting in movement. Cytoskeleton consists of three types of filaments: actin filaments, intermediate […]

Interphase definition Interphase refers to the phase between two successive mitoses, during which chromosomes are relaxed and functionally active and where an intense metabolic activity takes place. It is the longest phase of cell cycle and is subdivided into G1 stage, S stage and G2 stage. Cell Cycle Cell cycle is divided into two successive […]

Robert Koch was a physician and one of the founders of microbiology. He contributed to the understanding of the communicable diseases etiology…

Lamarck, Jean-Baptiste de, was a notable naturalist and one of the first proponents of a theory of evolution or transformism…

Lysosome definition Lysosome refers to the organelle present in eukaryotic cells which has as its main function the degradation of particles. Lysosome Characteristics Lysosomes are membrane-bound organelles present in eukaryotic cells, Figure 1. Inside, these organelles contain various hydrolytic enzymes, such as proteases, nucleases, lipases, phosphatases, among others. All hydrolytic enzymes present in lysosomes are […]

Metaphase definition Metaphase designates cell cycle phase in which chromosomes are in their most condensed state, aligned in cell equatorial plate. At this stage, chromosomes are attached to mitotic spindle, but have not yet segregated to cell opposite poles. Cell Cycle Cell basic function, which allows it to generate offspring exactly like itself, is the […]

Microbiology is the branch of biology that studies the organisms of microscopic dimensions – micro-organisms – and includes Virology, bacteriology, (…)