How can radioisotopes be used as tracers to study biological processes?

What will be an ideal response?


Isotypes of an element differ in the number of neutrons while the number of protons remains the same. Therefore, all isotopes of an element generally have the same chemical properties and organisms will use atoms of one isotope the same way that they use atoms of another. Therefore a detectable radioactive isotype of an element can be used as a tracer when delivered into a biological system such as a cell, body, or ecosystem. The tracer can be followed as it moves through the system with instruments that detect radiation.

Biology & Microbiology

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Cardiac muscle cells are connected by special junctions called intercalated discs. Intercalated discs provide strength between cells of tissues which exhibit high mechanical stress, strong flexible connections between tissue cells, and electrical excitability between the cells. Using this information, which junctions are present in intercalated discs?

A. Tight, plasmodesmata, and adherens B. Tight, plasmodesmata, and desmosomes C. Gap, adherens, and desmosomes D. Gap, desmosomes, and hemidesmosomes E. Adherens, tight, and gap

Biology & Microbiology

Which segment gene is activated first in the Drosophila embryo?

A. pair-rule genes B. segment-polarity genes C. gap genes D. myogenic bHLH genes

Biology & Microbiology

A viticulturist wants to grow larger grapes. Which specific hormone would a viticulturist apply to the plants?  

A.  auxin B.  cytokinin C.  gibberellin D.  abscisic acid E.  ethylene

Biology & Microbiology

A soil that is mostly ____ will tend to dry quickly compared to other soil types

a. sand b. humus c. clay d. silt

e. organic matter

Biology & Microbiology