Recombinant DNA technology and the use of synthetic DNA molecules make it possible for molecular biology scientists to induce specific mutations in specific genes. In vitro mutagenesis is used to purposefully change genetic information. The analysis of the subsequent changes in gene expression and gene products helps elucidate the functional effect of the mutation. […]
APPLICATIONS OF MUTAGENESIS Read More »
Biotechnology, Molecular Microbiology
Mutagens are biological, physical or chemical agents that change the genetic materials (inclusive of DNA and RNA molecules) of an organism and thus increase the frequency of mutations above the natural background level. They are substances that change the genetic information of an organism, usually by changing DNA. Mutagens interact with nucleic acid molecules particularly
Food meant for human or animal consumption should be certified safe and hygienically acceptable after production; and it is critical that food and food products undergo some series of microbiological tests including toxicological tests which test for the presence of microbial toxins in food or food products. Contaminated food and food products could serve as
MICROBIAL ENUMERATION OF FOOD PRODUCTS Read More »
Food Microbiology
Microorganisms inclusive of bacteria and fungi play tremendous roles in sustainable agriculture. And these organisms used for food production including bacteria and fungi have been found to improve the health status of the consumers. Due to the prevailing shortage of food or food scarcity in some parts of the world; microbes are currently being applied
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Food Microbiology, Industrial Microbiology
Food meant for human and animal consumption must meet certain quality and safety criteria to be adjudged safe for consumption after production. And this is only possible if the production process follows certain guidelines which are all geared towards ensuring the safety and hygiene of the final product. Several factors affect the quality of food
PRINCIPLES OF FOOD HYGIENE: sources of contamination in food industries Read More »
Food Microbiology, Industrial Microbiology
Antigen-antibody reaction is an immunological reaction in which a particular antibody molecule reacts with a specific antigen to form an antigen-antibody complex which is marked for further immunological response by other components of the immune system. It can occur inside a living organism (i.e. in vivo reaction) and it can also occur outside the host
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Microbe Lab, Immunology & Immune System, Techniques in Microbiology Lab
ELISA is the acronym for “enzyme linked immunosorbent assay”. It is an immunoassay or serological test that is used for the quantification or identification of specific antibodies or antigens in biological specimens (e.g. serum or blood). ELISA is mainly based on the principle of enzyme-substrate reaction. In ELISA, an enzyme (e.g. horseradish enzyme and beta-galactosidase
Poxviridae familyis a distinct family of viral genera that contain viruses that replicate in the cytoplasm of their host cells (inclusive of vertebrate and invertebrate cells). Cowpox, smallpox or variola virus, vaccinia virus and monkey pox viruses are typical examples of viruses in this family. The Poxviridae family contains viruses that infect humans, other vertebrates,
Parvoviridae family has six (6) genera of virus which include Parvovirus, Contravirus, Erythrovirus, Dependovirus, Densovirus and Iteravirus. Parvovirus or the human parvovirus B19 is the major viral agent in this family of virus because it causes infections in humans. The family Parvoviridae also contains viruses that cause viral infection in animals. The human parvovirus B19
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Virology
Streaking is a microbiological technique that is used to obtain pure cultures of microorganisms (particularly bacteria) in the laboratory. It usually involves a series of drawing a loop (carrying an inoculum of the test organism or sample) back and forth on dried solid culture media. As the streaking of the microbe on the dried solid
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Bacteriology, Microbe Lab, Techniques in Microbiology Lab