New video posted: How long is the DNA in a human cell?

In this video, I calculate the length of the DNA in one human cell, and my answer may surprise you.

How long do you think? 0.2 mm, less? 2 mm, 2 cm, 2 m, 2 km? Watch the video to find out.

The video walks you through the math I used to calculate the length of DNA, and then I will reveal the length it would be if the cell were the size of a football.

If you would like to support my blogging efforts, then please feel free to buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/drnickm

Blog Bonus: Free information sheet summarising the video and defining the key terms - download.

 

Additional Reading

The video was produced with help from the following resources:

• 📗 - The Biosciences Glossary
• 📗 - Molecular Biology of the Cell (Alberts) - (affiliate link)
• 📗 - Molecular Cell Biology (Lodish) - (affiliate link)
• 📗 - Biochemistry (Stryer) - (affiliate link)
• 📗 - Maths and Chemistry Refresher for Life and Biomedical Scientists
• 📗 - Catchup Chemistry (affiliate link to the book)
• 📗 - Catchup Maths and Stats (affiliate link to the book)

New video posted: Genetics and Mendel — DNA, genes, dominant and recessive traits

In this video, I examine Genetics and Mendel and discuss DNA, genes, and dominant and recessive traits.

The video introduces Gregor Mendel, an Austrian scientist and Augustinian friar known as the "father of modern genetics". I discuss his classic rounded and wrinkly pea experiments and describe how he came up with the idea of dominant and recessive traits.

If you would like to support my blogging efforts, then please feel free to buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/drnickm

Blog Bonus: Free information sheet summarising the video and defining the key terms - download.

 

Additional Reading

The video was produced with help from the following resources:

• 📗 - The Biosciences Glossary
• 📗 - Molecular Biology of the Cell (Alberts) - (affiliate link)
• 📗 - Molecular Cell Biology (Lodish) - (affiliate link)
• 📗 - Biochemistry (Stryer) - (affiliate link)

New video posted: DNA and Genes

How many genes does a human have? Do we have more genes than a plant? Do larger organisms, such as trees, have more genes than humans?

In the video, we will look at the genetic material — DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) — in cells and explore how many genes humans have and whether we, as complex organisms, have more genes than a tree, a potato or a tomato. What do you think?

If you would like to support my blogging efforts, then please feel free to buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/drnickm

Blog Bonus: Free information sheet summarising the video and defining the key terms - download.

 

Additional Reading

The video was produced with help from the following resources:

• 📗 - The Biosciences Glossary
• 📗 - Molecular Biology of the Cell (Alberts) - (affiliate link)
• 📗 - Molecular Cell Biology (Lodish) - (affiliate link)
• 📗 - Biochemistry (Stryer) - (affiliate link)

New video posted: What is a cell?

This is an interesting question... what is a cell? What makes a cell a cell? Why do we have cells?

In a recent video post on YouTube, I addressed this question and explored some of the different cell types that can be found in the human body.

To find out more, watch the video and discover the remarkable range of sizes of cells in our bodies.

If you would like to support my blogging efforts, then please feel free to buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/drnickm

Blog Bonus: Free information sheet summarising the video and defining the key terms - download.

 

Additional Reading

The video was produced with help from the following resources:

• 📗 - The Biosciences Glossary
• 📗 - Molecular Biology of the Cell (Alberts) - (affiliate link)
• 📗 - Molecular Cell Biology (Lodish) - (affiliate link)
• 📗 - Biochemistry (Stryer) - (affiliate link)

Back to blogging

After a break of nearly 8 years on this blog, I am back to blogging.

Watch this space for new posts

If you would like to support my blogging efforts, then please feel free to buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/drnickm

What is the molarity of water?

An interesting little question and a fun bit of maths...

The molecular weight of water is: 18.02 g/mol

The density of water is 1 g/ml

Therefore, 1 litre of water (1000 ml) would weigh 1000 g

The molarity of something is the number of moles of that thing per 1000 ml volume.

So we have 1000 g of water in 1 litre, and the molecular weight is 18.02 g/mol

Now, let's calculate the molarity of water. We know that we have 1000 g of water in 1 litre, and the molecular weight of water is 18.02 g/mol. To find the number of moles, we divide the mass by the molecular weight: 1000 / 18.02 = 55.49 moles.

The 1000 g of water is in 1000 ml (1 litre), so the molarity of water is 55.49 M

You can also test your understanding of the above calculations at: Maths4Biosciences.

If you would like to support my blogging efforts, then please feel free to buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/drnickm

Additional Resources

• 📗 - Maths and Chemistry Refresher for Life and Biomedical Scientists
• 📗 - Catchup Chemistry (affiliate link)
• 📗 - Catchup Maths and Stats (affiliate link)

Four really useful exam tips

Photo by Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu on Unsplash

Recently, I asked some colleagues for some revision and exam tips, and this is what we came up with:

1. Do you know where and when the exam is being held?

It sounds obvious, but it is worth checking that you know where and when your exam will be held. There is nothing worse than spending weeks (hopefully) revising and then turning up at the wrong time and venue and missing the exam. Also, make sure you set more than one alarm clock if your exam is first thing in the morning, or get a friend or parent to phone you up to make sure you are out of bed and heading to the exam hall. 

2. Try to get plenty of sleep before your exam

Try to get plenty of sleep the night before the exam. Being sleepy during an exam is not good.  Don’t try to boost your alertness with caffeine, and do not pull an ‘all-nighter’ revising the night before the exam. That last-minute ‘cram’ very rarely works. 

3. Think Positive

In an exam, don’t panic, and think positive. If you encounter a question you don’t understand, move on. Don’t sit there dwelling on it; leave it and come back to it later. Be positive. Don’t panic.

4. Don't Dissect!

Do not post-mortem your exam, as that will only cause anxiety and distress. Resist the urge to talk to friends about the exam. As soon as the exam has finished, go off for a walk or a treat, and don’t hang around with your classmates who think they did brilliantly (“That was so easy!”) or who think they have failed (“That paper was impossible”). Resist the urge. 

If you would like to support my blogging efforts, then please feel free to buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/drnickm