JEB centenary 1923-2023: celebrating 100 years of discovery

Microbiology, a scientific field dedicated to the study of microorganisms, has undergone profound development since its inception in the 17th century. Its history is marked by key discoveries and technological advancements that have shaped our understanding of life at the microscopic level and transformed medicine, agriculture, and industry.Early Foundations of MicrobiologyThe early foundations of microbiology were built on groundbreaking observations and the development of pioneering...

Centrifugation is a separation technique based on differences in density or size. It is commonly used to separate solids from aqueous interferents. During centrifugation, the sample is placed in centrifugation tubes and spun at high angular velocity, which allows centrifugal force to act differentially on the different densities or masses of the components. After spinning, the supernatant liquid is decanted. Depending on the specific application, either the pellet or the supernatant is retained...

The primary microtubule organizing center (MTOC) in animal cells is the centrosome. A centrosome has two cylindrical centrioles at its core. Each centriole consists of nine sets of three microtubules held together by proteins. The centrioles are positioned at right angles to each other and surrounded by a shapeless protein cloud called the pericentriolar matrix, or pericentriolar material (PCM).
To ensure that each daughter cell receives a centrosome after cell division, centrosome duplication...

Most animal cells comprise a pair of centrioles together called a centrosome. The cell duplicates its centrosome and contains two centrosomes side-by-side, which begin to move apart during the prophase. As the centrosomes migrate to two different sides of the cell, microtubules start extending from each centrosome toward the other end. The mitotic spindle is composed of the centrosomes and their emerging microtubules.
Near the end of the prophase, also called late prophase or...

Earth History and Clues from FossilsFossils are like nature’s time capsules. They hold clues about what Earth was like long before people existed. Some fossils show what ancient plants and animals looked like. Others reveal where oceans, forests, or deserts once existed. Fossils are found in layers of rock. The deeper the layer, the older the fossil. By studying these layers, scientists can piece together Earth’s history. Fossils help scientists understand how life and the environment have...

Scientific Inquiry and MethodScientific inquiry is how we ask questions and find answers about the world around us. Scientists use the scientific method to test ideas and learn from evidence. This process helps them study everything from tiny germs to massive planets.The scientific method follows these key steps:Observation – Noticing something interesting in the worldQuestion – Asking a question about the observationHypothesis – Making a prediction or an educated guessExperiment –...