We've just released a new feature: Text Annotation & Highlight - Add notes and highlights to articles! Login required.

Soil Formation (Pedogenesis)- Definition, Factors, Process, Steps, Examples

Soil Formation (Pedogenesis)- Definition, Factors, Process, Steps, Examples

What is Pedogenesis? Pedogenesis is the natural process of soil formation resulting from the interplay of physical, chemical, biological, and climatic elements throughout time. Chronology – In 1883, Vasily Dokuchaev posited that soil is a product of climate, vegetation, parent material, and temporal factors. In 1941, Hans Jenny established the CLORPT model—Climate, Organisms, Relief, Parent … Read more

Microbial degradation of Pectin – Enzymes, Steps, Mechanisms

Microbial degradation of Pectin - Enzymes, Steps, Mechanisms

Pectin is a complicated polysaccharide that is mostly found in the cell walls of plants, notably fruits. It is a structural heteropolysaccharide made up mostly of units of galacturonic acid. Pectin is a glue that holds plant cells together, making the plant tissue strong and stable. In the culinary sector, it is often used as … Read more

Microbial degradation of hemicellulose – Definition, Enzymes, Steps, Mechanisms

Microbial degradation of hemicellulose - Definition, Enzymes, Steps, Mechanisms

Hemicellulose is a group of polysaccharides found in plant cell walls, associated with cellulose and lignin. Unlike cellulose which is a linear polymer of glucose, hemicellulose is a branched, amorphous polymer of various sugar monomers like xylose, mannose, galactose, rhamnose and arabinose. It acts as a matrix component that binds with cellulose fibrils and lignin, … Read more

Microbial Degradation of Chitin – Microorganisms, Enzymes, Steps, Mechanisms

Microbial Degradation of Chitin - Definition, Microorganisms, Enzymes, Steps, Mechanisms

What is chitin? Structure of chitin What are Chitinases? Chitinases are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of the β-1,4-glycosidic bonds in chitin They belong to the glycosyl hydrolase family with EC number 3.2.1.14 Two main types exist based on cleavage mode They are produced by bacteria, fungi, plants and some animals for nutrition, defense or … Read more

Biosafety levels (BSL-1, BSL-2, BSL-3 and BSL-4) – Primary and Secondary Barriers, Agents

Biosafety levels With their Primary and Secondary Barriers.

A biosafety level (BSL) refers to a specific set of biocontainment measures designed to isolate hazardous biological agents within a controlled laboratory environment. This document outlines the necessary protective measures required in a laboratory environment to safeguard employees, the ecosystem, and the community from infectious agents. Historical Overview The classification of four levels of biosafety … Read more

What is Phycology?

What is Phycology?

In some places, phycology is also called algology. It is the study of algae, which are part of the plant kingdom.

Three-domain system – Carl Woese’s Classification

Carl Woese’s Classification - Three Domain Classification

All living organisms are grouped into three major categories under the three-domain system, a modern way to classify life based on genetic and evolutionary relationships. Proposed by microbiologist Carl Woese in the 1990s, this system splits life into Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Bacteria are the familiar single-celled microbes found everywhere, from soil to our bodies, lacking a cell … Read more

Biodiversity Hotspots – Definition, Criteria, Importance, Examples

Biodiversity Hotspots - Definition, Criteria, Importance, Examples

Biodiversity hotspots are regions packed with an extraordinary variety of plant and animal life found nowhere else on Earth—but they’re also in serious trouble. To qualify as a hotspot, an area must have at least 1,500 unique plant species and have already lost over 70% of its original natural habitat due to human activities like … Read more

Chlamydomonas – Life Cycle, Habitat, Structure, Examples

Chlamydomonas Cell Structure

Chlamydomonas is a tiny, single-celled green algae you’d likely find in ponds, soil, or even damp tree bark. Imagine a microscopic organism shaped like a oval, sporting two whip-like tails called flagella that let it zip through water. What’s cool about it? Despite its simplicity, it’s a powerhouse in science. Researchers love studying it because … Read more

Beer-Lambert Law – Definition, Derivation, and Limitations

Beer-Lambert Law - Definition, Derivation, and Limitations

The Beer-Lambert Law is a handy principle used to understand how light interacts with substances, like liquids or gases. Imagine shining a flashlight through a glass of colored water—some of the light gets absorbed, right? This law basically says that the amount of light absorbed depends on three things: how thick the glass is (path … Read more

Ad Blocker Detected
We've detected that you're using an ad blocker. Some content may not display properly.
Why are you seeing this? Ad blockers can prevent certain content and features from loading correctly on our website.

To continue with the best experience: