Tag: the birds and the bees
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Royal Jelly & Silkworm Droppings: The Buzz and the Poop of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Get ready, because we’re about to dive into the most unhinged yet scientifically fascinating duo in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): Royal Jelly (the queen bee’s secret sauce) and Silkworm Droppings (yes, bug poop, but make it medicinal). These two are the BeyoncĂ© and Jay-Z of the insect-derived health worldâunexpected, iconic, and absolutely legendary in their own right. đđ©âš Royal…
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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 crystal-clear killers. From Silkworms to Superbugs Our story begins in 1902 when Japanese sericultural engineer Ishiwatari Shigetane stumbled upon a mysterious ailment causing silkworms to…
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Testican
Testican is a type of proteoglycan. Testican-1 is a highly conserved, multidomain proteoglycan that is most prominently expressed in the thalamus, and is upregulated in activated astroglial cells of the cerebrum. Several functions of this gene product have now been demonstrated in vitro including membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase inhibition, cathepsin L inhibition, and low-affinity calcium binding. The purified gene product has been shown to inhibit cell attachment…
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A Mad Scientist’s Dream – Rumpless Chickens (and more)
Today, we delve into the bizarre phenomenon of rumpless chickensâa feathered marvel characterized by caudal dysplasia, or as some like to call it, the ultimate chicken makeover! These quirky birds are missing their pygostyle, that charming little appendage known as the âparsonâs nose,â a mutation that defies nature itself. This peculiar trait is inherited through…
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Effect of biotin deficiency on embryonic development in the domestic fowl (1944) with reference and cited by articles
The approximate biotin requirements of breeding hens have been established and the embryos examined for gross pathological symptoms and the approximate age at death are recorded. Cravens, W.W., W., & Sebesta, M.A. (1944). Effect of biotin deficiency on embryonic development in the domestic fowl. The Anatomical Record, 90. Reference articles Effect of Biotin on Reproduction in…
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Avidin is a tetrameric biotin-binding protein produced in the oviducts of birds, reptiles, amphibians
Dimeric members of the avidin family are also found in some bacteria. In chicken egg white, avidin makes up approximately 0.05% of total protein (approximately 1800 ÎŒg per egg). The tetrameric protein contains four identical subunits (homotetramer), each of which can bind to biotin (Vitamin B7, vitamin H) with a high degree of affinity and specificity. The dissociation constant of the avidin-biotin complex…
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The Yolk’s On Us: Unraveling the Secrets of Vitellogenesis
Hold onto your ovaries, folks! We’re about to dive into the wild world of Vitellogenesis – the cellular rave where eggs get their groove on! Picture this: You’re a lonely liver cell, minding your own business, when suddenly – BAM! – you’re hit with a tsunami of estradiol. It’s like Mother Nature’s Red Bull, and…
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Vitellin is essential in the fertilization process, and embryonic development in egg-laying organisms
Vitellin is a protein found in the egg yolk. It is a phosphoprotein. Vitellin is a generic name for major of many yolk proteins. Vitellin has been known since the 1900s. The periodic acid-Schiff method and Sudan black B dye was used to help determine that Vitellin is a glycolipoprotein because it stained positive when tested. This protein was…
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Buzz Pollination or Sonication
Buzz pollination or sonication is a technique used by some bees, such as solitary bees to release pollen which is more or less firmly held by the anthers. The anthers of buzz-pollinated plant species are typically tubular, with an opening at only one end, and the pollen inside is smooth-grained and firmly attached. With self-fertile plants such as tomatoes, wind may be sufficient…
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Sonication
Sonication is the act of applying sound energy to agitate particles in a sample, for various purposes such as the extraction of multiple compounds from plants, microalgae and seaweeds. Ultrasonic frequencies (> 20 kHz) are usually used, leading to the process also being known as ultrasonication or ultra-sonication. In the laboratory, it is usually applied using an ultrasonic bath or an ultrasonic probe, colloquially known…
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The lactating birds and the bees (gastrin, pepsin, etc)
Crop milk is a secretion from the lining of the crop of parent birds that is regurgitated to young birds. It is found among all pigeons and doves where it is referred to as pigeon milk. An analog to crop milk is also secreted from the esophagus of flamingos and the male emperor penguin. Description Crop milk bears little physical resemblance to mammalian milk. Crop milk is a…
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Megachile pluto aka king of the bees
Megachile pluto, also known as Wallace’s giant bee or raja ofu (lit.â’king of the bees’), is a large resin bee found in Indonesia. With a wingspan of 63.5 mm (2.5 in) it is the largest known living bee species. It was believed to be extinct until several specimens were discovered in 1981. No further sightings were confirmed until two specimens were collected and sold on eBay in…
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Daedalus (Greek mythology)
In Greek mythology, Daedalus (Greek: ÎαίΎαλοÏ; Latin: Daedalus; Etruscan: Taitale) was a skillful architect and craftsman, seen as a symbol of wisdom, knowledge and power. He is the father of Icarus, the uncle of Perdix, and possibly also the father of Iapyx. Among his most famous creations are the wooden cow for PasiphaĂ«, the Labyrinth for King Minos of Crete which imprisoned the Minotaur, and wings that he and his son Icarus used…
