Omiqa Bioinformatics

🧫Are there bacterial cells that you can see without a microscope? This is the solution to our last quiz! The largest bacterial #cell known is called Thiomargarita Namibiensis, reaching up to 0.75mm in diameter. These giant sulphur #bacteria are visible to the naked eye and are found in oxygen-poor sediments of the coast of Namibia. Their size allows them to store nitrate reserves and survive in fluctuating #environmental conditions, contributing to their ecological significance in marine #exosystems. #Omiqa #Bioinformatics #LifeScience

🧫Life Science Corner🧫 We're back with another intriguing biology quiz! 🔍Let's explore the world of bacteria. What do you think, how large is the largest bacterial cell? The answer will be shared next week!

🧫How can #bacteria adhere to surfaces and form biofilms? 🔍The answer are #Pili! These hair-like appendages extend from the bacterial cell surface and facilitate attachment to various surfaces, including host tissues and #medical devices. #Biofilms are complex communities of bacteria that are highly resistant to #antibiotics and play a significant role in chronic #infections and industrial biofouling. #Omiqa #Bioinformatics #LifeScience

🧫It's Quiz Time Again!🧫 🔍Explore the fascinating world of #microbiology with us! Do you know which structure allows #bacteria to adhere to surfaces and form #biofilms? We'll post the solution next week. Do you think you know the right answer?

Time to reveal the answer to last week's quiz! The fastest recorded #nerve impulse travels at 100 m/s! This incredible speed is seen in some myelinated #neurons, which are essential for rapid signal transmission in #animals. Myelination allows for saltatory conduction, where the nerve impulse jumps from one node of Ranvier to the next, dramatically increasing the speed of signal propagation. This mechanism is crucial for swift responses and complex nervous system functions. #Omiqa #LifeScience #Bioinformatics

💡Biology Superlatives💡 Did you know, there's a #protein so potent that even a tiny amount could be deadly? Meet Botulinum toxin - nature's most toxic protein, produced by the #bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Just a few nanograms of Botulinum toxin are enough to cause severe illness or even death in humans. Its remarkable potency stems from its ability to disrupt #nerve #signaling, leading to paralysis. Ironically, this deadly toxin has found a surprising use in #medicine. In controlled doses, Botulinum toxin is used to treat various medical conditions, including muscle spasms, migraines, and even excessive sweating. Beyond its deadly reputation, studying Botulinum toxin provides insights into #neurobiology and therapeutic applications. Have you encountered other intriguing proteins with dual roles like Botulinum toxin? Let us know in the comments!💉💀 #Omiqa #LifeScience #Bioinformatics

🧫Life Science Quiz Corner🧫 Get ready for another round of our biology quiz! 🔍This time, we're exploring the speed of nerve impulses. What is the fastest recorded nerve impulse? We'll reveal the answer next week so stay tuned!

🔍Fighting Disease with Gene Fusion Detection🔍 Did you know, that two #genes can be fused together by accident in a living organism? Due to chromosomal translocations, deletions in the #genome, inversions within the genome or simply read-through #transcription, two (or more) genes can be fused together. The outcome are incorrect forms of the proteins whose genes were fused together with great implications for diseases like cancer. 🔍To discover these fusions, Next Generation Sequencing is the key! With #NGS you can sequence a whole genome or the #transcriptome and in both you can find evidence for the gene fusion events. For this, an algorithm checks for sequencing reads that contain fragments of two genes. The more reads like this are being detected, the more certain the algorithm can be that this is due to a gene fusion. 🔍Detecting gene fusion is crucial in disease management as well as disease research! Contact us to plan your NGS project to detect gene fusions! #Omiqa #LifeScience #Bioinformatics

🧫The slowest metabolism in the animal kingdom 🧫 Did you vote in our last #biology quiz? Time to reveal the right answer: The Greenland shark has the slowest #metabolism! These sharks live in the cold, deep waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, where their slow metabolic rate helps them to survive in the low-energy #environment. They grow very slowly and can live for several centuries, making them one of the longest living vertebrates. Their slow metabolism is a fascinating adaptation to their extreme #habitat! Stay tuned for more interesting superlatives from the world of biology. #Omiqa #QuizCorner

💡 Wonders of Nature 💡 Ever heard of antifreeze #proteins? These remarkable proteins found in Arctic fish are like nature's own icebreakers. They prevent ice crystals from forming in the fish's #cells, allowing them to thrive in freezing waters. Maybe humans should develop such mechanisms so we could deal better with ice-cold winters! Antifreeze proteins aren't just a curiosity - they also have practical applications. Some scientists are exploring how these proteins could inspire new technologies for preserving organs during transplantation. Other researchers are focusing on developing frost-resistant crops. Unfortunately, there hasn't been found a solution for us to withstand the cold, but let's see what the future holds! Have you encountered other fascinating genes in your research? Share your discoveries in the comments below 🐟❄️ #Omiqa #LifeScience