Sourav Pan is the founder and sole author of Biology Notes Online. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree and an M.Sc. in Microbiology from the University of Calcutta. He creates educational resources covering microbiology, immunology, biotechnology, genetics, cell biology, botany, zoology, and other life-science subjects.
His goal is to make complex biological concepts easier to understand through well-structured, student-friendly articles based on academic textbooks, peer-reviewed research, and authoritative scientific sources. In addition to writing new content, he regularly reviews and updates articles to improve their accuracy, clarity, and educational value.
What is Vertebra? Definition of Vertebra A vertebra is an individual bone that forms part of the vertebral column (spine) in vertebrate animals. It is an irregularly shaped bone composed of a central body, a vertebral arch, and various processes, providing structural support, flexibility, and protection for the spinal cord. Parts of Vertebrae 1. Vertebral … Read more
What is Microbiology? Microbiology, derived from the Greek words μῑκρός (mīkros) meaning ‘small’, βίος (bíos) meaning ‘life’, and -λογία (-logía) meaning ‘study of’, is the scientific discipline focused on the study of microorganisms. These microorganisms can be unicellular (single-celled), multicellular (comprising multiple cells), or acellular (lacking cellular structure). The field encompasses several sub-disciplines, including virology, … Read more
In many domains, including medicine, statistics, and machine learning, it is vital to comprehend the complexities of diagnostic tests and their outcomes. There are four key principles that come into play when assessing a diagnostic test’s efficacy: sensitivity, specificity, false positives, and false negatives. Confusion and incorrect interpretation of test results can result from the … Read more
What is Protein Synthesis? Protein synthesis is a fundamental biological process that occurs within cells, responsible for the formation of proteins through the assembly of amino acid chains, termed polypeptides. This process is pivotal to the central dogma of genetics and is instrumental in maintaining cellular function and structure. The process of protein synthesis can … Read more
Hybridization Probes Definition Hybridization probes are a small nucleotide sequence that is used for the detection of complementary sequences (DNA or RNA) in a nucleic acid sample. DNA Probes detects the complementary DNA with the help of a hybridization reaction. This is achieved by permitting the probes to base pair with the sample nucleic acid … Read more
What is cDNA cloning? Definition of Complementary DNA or cDNA Complementary DNA (cDNA) is a form of DNA synthesized from a messenger RNA (mRNA) template through the action of the enzyme reverse transcriptase. It represents the coding sequence of genes and is commonly used in gene cloning and expression studies. cDNA Cloning Definition cDNA cloning … Read more
In molecular biology and genetics, translation is the process in which ribosomes in the cytoplasm or endoplasmic reticulum synthesize proteins after the process of transcription of DNA to RNA in the cell’s nucleus. The entire process is called gene expression.
DNA is the full genetic information that determines the nature and function that an animal has. Proteins are made by the genetic code contained in DNA. Conversion of DNA encoded data to RNA is necessary to make proteins. So, in the majority of cells, genetic information is transferred from – DNA to RNA, and then to protein. The transfer of information is controlled by three different processes that help in the transfer of genetic information as well as its transformation into a different form:
What is Microprojectile Bombardment? Definition of Microprojectile Bombardment Microprojectile bombardment, also known as biolistics or gene gun delivery, is a method used to introduce foreign genetic material into cells or tissues by accelerating microscopic particles coated with the desired DNA, RNA, or proteins at high velocities, facilitating direct gene transfer. This technique is commonly employed … Read more