New video posted: DNA replication: How does a cell make a copy of its DNA?

Have you ever been curious about the precision with which DNA is replicated in our cells, or why human pregnancies don't extend to an unimaginable sixteen years?

In my latest video, I examine the process of DNA replication. First, I explore how the DNA double helix is unwound by DNA helicase and how the unwound DNA is stabilised by Single Stranded Binding Proteins. I look at the replication fork and how DNA polymerases copy the DNA strands.

I also cover the formation of Okazaki fragments—short sequences of DNA synthesised on the lagging strand—and how DNA ligase is responsible for stitching these fragments together. Additionally, the video highlights the importance of topoisomerase in preventing the DNA from becoming overly twisted and tangled during replication.

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 Packaging - how do we package DNA into the nucleus?

In the video, I examine how the long DNA molecule is packaged into the relatively small nucleus of a cell. I examine how DNA is broken up into chromosomes, how the DNA wraps around the histones to form nucleosomes and chromatosomes, and finally, chromatin.

Please use the form below to download a fact sheet for the video. The fact sheet contains twenty-four key facts from the video, a summary of the packing of DNA into the nucleus and the definitions of twenty-five key terms used in the video.

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: 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