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Related Concept Videos

Mutations01:35

Mutations

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Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
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Stability of Substituted Cyclohexanes02:30

Stability of Substituted Cyclohexanes

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This lesson discusses the stability of substituted cyclohexanes with a focus on energies of various conformers and the effect of 1,3-diaxial interactions.
The two chair conformations of cyclohexanes undergo rapid interconversion at room temperature. Both forms have identical energies and stabilities, each comprising equal amounts of the equilibrium mixture. Replacing a hydrogen atom with a functional group makes the two conformations energetically non-equivalent.
For example, in...
14.5K
Nuclear Stability03:18

Nuclear Stability

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Protons and neutrons, collectively called nucleons, are packed together tightly in a nucleus. With a radius of about 10−15 meters, a nucleus is quite small compared to the radius of the entire atom, which is about 10−10 meters. Nuclei are extremely dense compared to bulk matter, averaging 1.8 × 1014 grams per cubic centimeter. If the earth’s density were equal to the average nuclear density, the earth’s radius would be only about 200 meters.
To hold positively charged protons together...
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Spontaneous and Induced Mutations01:30

Spontaneous and Induced Mutations

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Spontaneous mutations arise infrequently during DNA replication due to errors in the process. A key factor behind these errors is tautomeric shifts in nitrogenous bases, where bases transition from keto to enol forms or amino to imino forms. This shift can alter base-pairing rules, leading to mutations. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) arising from aerobic metabolism can damage DNA, resulting in depurination (loss of a purine base) or depyrimidination (loss of a pyrimidine base).
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Radical Reactivity: Steric Effects01:10

Radical Reactivity: Steric Effects

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The presence of electron-donating, electron-withdrawing, or conjugating groups adjacent to a radical center, imparts electronic stabilization to the radicals. Examples of such electronically-stabilized radicals are triphenylmethyl, tetramethylpiperidine‐N‐oxide, and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl. These radicals are remarkably stable and are known as persistent radicals. Some of the persistent radicals can even be isolated and purified.
Along with electronic...
2.3K
Overview of DNA Repair02:25

Overview of DNA Repair

33.2K
In order to be passed through generations, genomic DNA must be undamaged and error-free. However, every day, DNA in a cell undergoes several thousand to a million damaging events by natural causes and external factors. Ionizing radiation such as UV rays, free radicals produced during cellular respiration, and hydrolytic damage from metabolic reactions can alter the structure of DNA. Damages caused include single-base alteration, base dimerization, chain breaks, and cross-linkage.
Chemically...
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Measuring DNA Damage and Repair in Mouse Splenocytes After Chronic In Vivo Exposure to Very Low Doses of Beta- and Gamma-Radiation
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The Radiation Stability of Thymine in Solid H2O.

Christopher K Materese1, Perry A Gerakines1, Reggie L Hudson1

  • 1Astrochemistry Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.

Astrobiology
|April 22, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Nucleobase survival under radiation is key for astrobiology. Thymine (a nucleobase) destruction kinetics show it is less stable in water ice, with survival increasing at higher temperatures.

Keywords:
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Evaluation of the Spatial Distribution of &#947;H2AX following Ionizing Radiation
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Area of Science:

  • Astrobiology
  • Radiation Chemistry
  • Spectroscopy

Background:

  • Nucleobases are vital for life and potential biosignatures.
  • Understanding nucleobase stability in extraterrestrial environments is crucial for astrobiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the radiolytic destruction kinetics of thymine in pure form and in water ice mixtures.
  • To determine the influence of temperature and dilution on thymine survival under ionizing radiation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized in situ infrared spectroscopy to measure rate constants.
  • Computed radiolytic half-lives for thymine under various conditions.

Main Results:

  • Thymine survival decreases with increasing dilution in water.
  • Thymine survival increases with increasing ice temperature.
  • Ice matrix structure may influence thymine degradation.

Conclusions:

  • Thymine's stability is significantly affected by its environment, particularly water content and temperature.
  • These findings have implications for the search for life beyond Earth.