Found 122 Articles for Biology Articles

Introduction: Hormonal Disorders Hormonal balance is essential for humans to lead a healthy life. A single hormone or pair of hormones with opposite functions work together to maintain the hormonal balance. However, fluctuations in the normal levels of hormones can occur due to the insufficient or excessive production of hormones which are called hormonal imbalances or disorders. It is also developed when the body cannot respond to the hormones, which have information to coordinate several functions in the body. Hormones are predominantly produced by the endocrine cells, and therefore, the hormonal disorder is also called an endocrine disorder. Hormonal disorders ... Read More

Introduction Hookworms are a type of parasitic nematodes that are inhabitants of the small intestine, skin and lungs of mammals like humans, dogs, and cats. Hookworms belong to the class Secernentea and the order Strongylida and the family Ancylostomatidae. Hookworm larvae and adults living in the small intestine can result in helminthiases, an intestinal ailment. Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus are the two main hookworm species that affect people. A. brasilense and A. caninum are the two canine hookworms that can infect people. In tropical and subtropical areas of the world, Necator americanus is the causative agent of nearly 90% ... Read More

Introduction Honey bees are a eusocial flying insect species that belong to the bee family and is indigenous to Afro-Eurasia. One of the many types of bees that make honey is the honey bee, Apis mellifera. Only bees from the Apini tribe, belonging to the Apis genus, are considered as true honey bees. The average honey bee colony/hive contains 50, 000 bees which consist of queens, drones, and workers. An estimated one-third of all the food crops we eat are pollinated by honey bees. Honey bee characteristics are − The stinger, legs, antenna, three segments of the thorax covered ... Read More

Introduction The term “Homeostasis” was given in 1926 by Walter Bradford Cannon. Homeostasis is derived from two Greek words ὅμοιος (homios) i.e., similar and στάσις (stasis) i.e., standing still. It is a self-regulating process that maintains consistency in internal, physical, and chemical conditions. This sets the optimal condition for the functioning of organisms. When optimal conditions are already present, homeostasis is maintained by the natural resistance to change. Homeostasis is a state of dynamic equilibrium; thus continuous change occurs while uniform conditions prevail. Examples of homeostatic regulation include control and coordination done by the electrical circuits, the nervous system, and ... Read More

Introduction to Guttation Guttation is the term given to the exudation of the xylem sap in the form of liquid droplets. These droplets are present on the tips and edges of the leaves of tropical plants. Guttation often occurs in moist soils during damp, humid nights, when water absorption is high, but transpiration is minimal. This phenomenon is easily observable in the early morning hours, and often can be seen during the later hours of the day as well. Guttation is observed among several angiospermous plants, especially the ones that grow in tropical regions. Examples include grasses, grapevines, strawberries, cereal ... Read More

Introduction to Genetic Material Mendel’s experiments with garden peas were a setting stone in genetics. He knew that some “factor” was responsible for the characteristics observed in organisms, which were passed down from each parent to the offspring. At that time, he wasn’t aware of what this factor was. However, one thing was certain; the genetic material was expressible and inheritable. After continued speculation regarding the molecular nature of the genetic material, certain groundbreaking experiments, including those by Fredrick Griffith (1928), Averty, MacLeod, and McCarty (1944), and Hershey and Chase (1952) laid conclusive evidence that helped establish that it ... Read More

Introduction In an ecosystem, diverse organisms live together and continuously interact with one another by transferring energy and nutrients. One organism is eaten up by another organism allowing the flow of nutrients and energy, forming food chains. Many food chains interact within a single ecosystem and make a food web. A food chain provides a clear-cut idea about the feeding patterns and relationships between diverse organisms living in an ecosystem. A grazing food chain derives energy from the sun. The photosynthetic green plants utilize solar energy and fix the abiotic carbon dioxide into a biologically available form that is glucose. ... Read More

Introduction Grasshoppers belong to the class Insecta of the phylum Arthropoda and are placed under the suborder Caelifera and order Orthoptera. They are flying insects and are more closely related to crickets. Grasshoppers are around 11, 000 species widely distributed around the globe. They inhabit almost all parts of the earth where vegetation is present except the polar regions. They are common crop pests and are a severe problem for farmers. They feed on grasses and plants forming the first consumers of food chains. Animals like frogs and snakes eat grasshoppers forming the next trophic levels. Characteristics Grasshoppers are ... Read More

Introduction Bacteria are microscopic organisms and are not visible to the naked eye. Studying the internal cell structure is much needed to understand the bacterial disease cycles. Most bacteria lack colour and are stained with staining agents for efficient observation under a light microscope. Gram staining is one such staining technique which imparts colour to the bacterial cell wall based on the cell wall biochemistry and its structural properties. Gram-positive bacteria retain the primary stain even after the discolouration step in Gram’s staining technique. Cell wall biochemical constituents allow the primary stain retention in the step-wise staining according to ... Read More

Introduction Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals and the progression of gout is categorized into four stages. Asymptomatic hyperuricemia is a condition with a high uric acid level in the blood and there are no symptoms, therefore treatment is not needed at this stage. Acute intermittent gout characterizes the swelling, redness, and pain caused by the accumulation of uric acid in joints. Intercritical gout is the condition of the duration between the asymptomatic phase and normal functioning of the joints, however, the crystals are continuous deposits that make another attack or ... Read More