Toxins
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Snake venom can have significant effects on fat distribution and adipose tissue
Stimulation of adipose tissue cells: Bothrops moojeni snake venom (Bmv) has been shown to stimulate preadipocytes, which are precursor cells to fat cells. This stimulation leads to the release of… Read more.
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Venomous avians!
Who knew our feathered friends could pack such a toxic punch? Hooded Pitohui: The OG Poison Bird Meet the hooded pitohui, the bird that started it all. This New Guinean… Read more.
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Rete pegs (aka rete processes or rete ridges or papillae) are epithelial extensions that project into the underlying connective tissue in both skin and mucous membranes.
In the epithelium of the mouth, the attached gingiva exhibit rete pegs, while the sulcular and junctional epithelia do not. Scar tissue lacks rete pegs and scars tend to shear off more easily than normal tissue as… Read more.
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Buggy Love Potion: The Science of Insect Sex Hormones
Listen up, you sexy six-legged sirens and alluring arthropods! 馃悶馃拫 Get ready to have your mind blown and your exoskeleton rocked. Insect sex hormones: They’re real, they’re spectacular, and they’re… Read more.
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Steroidogenic factor 1聽(SF-1)聽protein and a few related things
The steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) protein is a transcription factor involved in sex determination by controlling the activity of genes related to the reproductive glands or gonads and adrenal glands. This protein is encoded by the NR5A1 gene, a member of the nuclear receptor subfamily, located… Read more.
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The Two-Faced Troublemaker: Bacillus cereus, the Jekyll and Hyde of Bacteria
Bacillus cereus is the bacterial world’s very own shape-shifting supervillain! This microscopic menace is the master of disguise, equally at home in your garden soil as it is crashing your… Read more.
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Flacherie (and a ridiculous history of Bt development…roundabout)
History of Bt Development as told in New Innovative Pesticides: An Evaluation of Incentives and Disincentives for Commercial Development by Industry, Stanford Research Institute (Final Report dated September 1977, Prepared… Read more.
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Bacillus thuringiensis: the James Bond of biological pest control
In the microscopic world of bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a gram-positive, soil-dwelling microbe is the go-to secret agent for farmers and gardeners worldwide, thanks to its uncanny ability to produce… Read more.
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Delta endotoxins聽(未-endotoxins) are聽pore-forming toxins聽produced by聽Bacillus thuringiensis聽species of bacteria. They are useful for their聽insecticidal聽action and are the primary toxin produced by聽Bt maize/corn.
Bt maize/Bt corn聽is a variant of聽maize聽that has been聽genetically altered聽to express one or more聽proteins聽from the聽bacteriumBacillus thuringiensis聽including聽Delta endotoxins. During聽spore聽formation the bacteria produce crystals of such proteins (hence the name聽Cry聽toxins) that are also… Read more.
