Just Everyday Science

A Brief Introduction to Forensic Science

‘Evidence never lies.’ Criminal Minds, CSI, Law & Order – the popularity of crime television shows might have a bit to do with how the audience gets a little taste of forensic technology. After all, not many people out there would have had the first-hand experience of having their DNA sampled! There wouldn’t be criminal investigations without forensics, and contrary to what TV portrays, lots of different branches exist – forensic pathology, DNA analysis, toxicology… So, how do scientists solve a crime?

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ligand docked in protein crystal structure
Structure-Based Design

Molecular Docking: Bioinformatics in Drug Discovery

Ever heard of the term bioinformatics? It’s an interdisciplinary field of science that combines different topics such as biology, computer science, mathematics and statistics. In a world where data is being generated at a faster rate than we can process, bioinformatics is used to analyze massive amounts of data and make sense of it all. We take a look at how bioinformatics is making a huge impact in drug discovery and design, by focusing on the field of molecular docking in virtual screening of compounds.

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University Level Guides

A Guide To Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR)

qPCR – also known as Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction – is currently the gold standard for detection and quantification of RNA in a small number of tissues. However, the technique itself depends on a range of factors; let’s take a look at some tips and tricks to increase your chances of success.

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High School Level Guides

Demonstration: Benedict’s Test for Reducing Sugars

We often hear people emphasizing about the amount of sugar in their food or drink, and the health risks that are associated with a high sugar intake. But how do scientists quantify the concentration of sugar in various substances? Before the relatively recent invention of sensitive and expensive electronic devices, well, there was beautiful and colorful chemistry!

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Just Everyday Science

Does Alcohol Really Kill Brain Cells? The Effects of Booze on The Body

‘In Vino Veritas’ or ‘in wine lies truth’ are well-known words supposedly uttered 2600 years ago by the poet Alcaeus of Mytilene. Since ancient civilizations, humans were familiar with alcoholic beverages – its effects documented even in the bible and so exquisitely by Shakespeare. Depending on the amount consumed, alcohol can cause blackouts, headaches, nausea or fatigue. But what actually happens to the glass (or glasses) of wine we consume after it enters the human body?

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