Animations Images A comparison of key characteristics from the three domains of life Comparison of key characteristics from the three domains of life. A cytotoxic T cell attacking a host cell that is expressing foreign antigens Binding by both the antigen and an MHC molecule initiates the secretion of lytic enzymes by the cytotoxic T cell (Tc). Action potential movement through an axon A cross-section of an axon, with an action potential (AP) moving from left to right. The AP has not yet reached point 4; the membrane there is still at rest. At point 3, positive sodium ions are moving in from the adjacent region, depolarizing the region; the sodium channels are about to open. Point 2 is at the peak of the AP; the sodium channels are open and ions are flowing into the axon. The AP has passed by point 1; the sodium channels are inactivated, and the membrane is hyperpolarized. Active site The active site of the penicillin-binding protein. The gray stick-like structures represent the secondary and tertiary structure of the penicillin-binding protein. Binding of the antibiotic, the substrate, to the active site blocks the normal action of the protein in the bacterial cell, resulting in death of the cell. Alternative splicing More than one protein can be made from a gene. In this case, three different mRNA molecules are made from one gene. The exons (the numbered boxes) can combine in different configurations to eventually form different proteins. Ambulocetus, an archaic whale An artistic reconstruction of Ambulocetus, an ancestor to modern whales, based on fossil evidence AMPA receptor figure Pictured are many of the molecules that are known to interact with AMPA receptors and play some role in long-term potentiation. Anthrax phylogeny A phylogenetic representation of the various anthrax isolates from laboratories around the world Anthrax rods Scanning electron micrograph of Bacillus anthracis rods in the human spleen Anthrax spores Spores of Bacillus anthracis Antigenic shift A new form of a virus can arise when multiple viruses infect the same animal cell. Segments of nucleic acid can be exchanged resulting in a novel pathogen. "Apemen" An early sketch of the evolution of man from the zoological point of view Arcuate nucleus neurons Neurons of the arcuate nucleus Artiodactyl An artist's rendering of an ancient artiodactyl, a group of split-hoofed animals that were the ancestors to camels, hippos, pigs, and probably modern whales. Ascent of man An early view of the evolution of man from its ancestors Asteroid A re-creation by NASA scientists of the impact made by an asteroid 500 miles in diameter at Chicxulub, on the Yucatan Peninsula. This impact is thought to be the cause of the K/T mass extinction 65 million years ago. Attached bacteria Scanning electron micrograph of a young bacterial biofilm that formed on the lower surface of an oil slick on the Athabasca River. Attached bacteria Scanning electron micrograph of a young bacterial biofilm that formed on the lower surface of an oil slick on the Athabasca River. Bacillus anthracis Transmission electron micrograph of Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax Bacillus anthracis Photomicrograph of Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax Bacillus thuringiensis spore and protein crystals Protein crystals made by strains of Bacillus thuringiensis are toxic to certain insects and have been put to use as a biopesticide. Bacterial conjugation The F-pilus serves as a point of contact between a bacterium containing an F-plasmid (the "male") and a bacterium lacking the plasmid (the "female"). After the female cell is contacted the pilus retracts, pulling the cells together. The exact mechanism of DNA transfer from male to female is not known; it may be by a channel in the pilus or by a temporary fusion of the mating cells. Bacterial transformation 1. Naked DNA fragments from disintegrated cells in the area of a potential recipient cell. This cell must be of the correct genus and be in a state of competence, allowing the entry of the DNA fragments. 2. Entry of naked DNA into competent cell. 3. Recombination. Biochemical pathway for beta-carotene production in golden rice The biochemical pathway for beta-carotene synthesis in golden rice. Biofilms on catheter tips Biofilms can be a problem in medical settings where artificial materials are introduced into the human body, allowing bacteria to colonize and cause infection. Biomass vs. species number Tilman's experimental data showing that productivity rose with the number of species grown in a plot Black Mamo Another animal that has gone extinct in the "sixth mass extinction" BLAST search results The results of a BLAST search using the delta chain of hemoglobin as the query. Blastula A photograph of an early stage blastula from the Xenopus laevis frog. Breast cancer cells A micrograph of breast cancer cells Budding HIV viruses HIV-1 by transmission electron micrograph, showing mature virus particles budding from a lymphocyte Carl Woese's data An autoradiogram of a gel electrophoresis separation and visualization of ribosomal RNA, part of Carl Woese's research that led him to reorganize the Tree of Life into three domains rather than five kingdoms. Cedar Creek aerial photo Aerial photo of Cedar Creek research fields at the University of Minnesota Cedar creek aerial photo Aerial photo of Cedar Creek research fields at the University of Minnesota Chemical structures of dopamine-like drugs The chemical structures of dopamine, Ritalin, and cocaine are structurally similar: they all bind at the dopamine transporter, affecting reuptake of dopamine. Chick embryo A microphotograph of a chick embryo Chimpanzee The chimpanzee, humans' closest living relative Chloroplasts A photomicrograph of chloroplasts, key cellular structures found in plants, which originally existed as free-living bacteria Cloning animals by nuclear transfer A donor cell is fused with enucleated egg cell by subjecting the two cells to pulses of electricity. The cell replicates in culture, generating an embryo, which is then introduced into the uterus of a female for development. CLUSTAL data A CLUSTAL alignment of a segment of a gene from four species. The red letters show the amino acid sequence (R=arginine, P=proline, G=glycine, etc.). The nucleotides that are conserved in all four species are shown in the columns with an asterisk at the bottom. Cocaine PET scan PET scans of a cocaine user's brain Colinearity Genes that are expressed at the anterior end of an animal are located at the more anterior region of the chromosome. Likewise, posteriorly expressed genes reside on the posterior end of the chromosome. This is referred to as spatial colinearity. Confocal neuron A reconstruction of a neuron in a brain slice using confocal microscopy Coordinate, gap, pair-rule, and segment polarity genes The cascade of developmental genes in segmentation in Drosophila. Maternal effect/coordinate genes set the anterior-posterior axes. The embryo is subdivided into progressively smaller regions by the actions of each class of segmentation genes. Corn lilly A substance called cyclopamine, found in the corn lilly plant, Californicum veratrum, is the cause of birth defects in lambs. Cortex neurons Cortical neurons stained in a slice Cyclopic lamb This lamb's mother ate a poisonous plant, the corn lilly, which contains a compound called cyclopamine. This compound inhibits the action of the Sonic Hedgehog protein, which is involved in the formation of the neural system. David Reimer and his brother This is the first family gathering after David Reimer announced his intention to live as a male instead of a female. (David is on the left.) DeCode asthma pedigree figure Pedigree of one family and its history of asthma through the generations Deer tick The tick that causes Lyme disease Deformed zebrafish embryo This embryo was treated with retinoic acid, which causes neurological damage. Deinococcus radiodurans Deinococcus radiodurans is a bacterium that scientists claim is the most radiation-resistant organism on earth. Deinococcus radiodurans Deinococcus radiodurans is a bacterium that scientists claim is the most radiation-resistant organism on earth. Diagram of human and chimp chromosome A diagram of human and chimp chromosome similarity Distribution of Aedes aegypti and dengue hemorrhagic fever Distribution of the mosquito Aedes aegypti, the vector for dengue/dengue hemorrhagic fever. A mosquito eradication program administered by the Pan American Health Organization ended in 1970. Docked vesicle Docked vesicles at axons, showing "post-synaptic density" Dopamine transporter Left: Dopamine in the synaptic space binds to dopamine receptors on the post-synaptic cell. Dopamine transporters in the presynaptic membrane take up the dopamine molecules from the synaptic cleft and return them to the presynaptic cell. Right: Cocaine blocks the reuptake of dopamine, leading to molecular changes that contribute to addiction. Dorsal ganglia cells Sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia Drosophila embryo with bicoid protein stain This is a two-hour-old Drosophila embryo that shows the expression of the bicoid protein. The bicoid protein forms a gradient with the highest expression at the anterior end (left side in this photo) of the embryo. Drosophila eye Electron microscope image of a fly eye (Drosophila melanogaster) Drosophila with antennapedia mutation When Drosophila has a mutation in the antennapedia gene, legs will grow out of its head. Drug binding to active site of protein In virtual ligand screening, the three-dimensional image of the protein is fed into a computer, which attempts to fit millions of small molecules to a targeted active site. Small molecules that bind well to the protein become good leads for potential new drugs. Euprymna scolopes The luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri colonizes the light organ of the squid Euprymna scolopes, providing camouflage. Extracellular matrix Bacterial cells enmeshed in extracellular matrix material, creating a biofilm Fate map A representation of a fate map. Five-kingdom vs. three-domain tree of life The older five-kingdom tree of life, which has been replaced by Woese's three-domain tree. Fruit fly with extra eyes The head of a fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, viewed by scanning electron microscope (380x magnification). Targeted expression of the eyeless gene induced the formation of the eye facets on the antenna (to the lower-right of the eye), which are very similar to the facets of the normal eye. This identifies eyeless as the master control gene of eye morphogenesis. Gene disruption by homologous recombination The plasmid contains a gene interrupted by a marker gene (XR). Recombination involving two crossovers between the plasmid and wild type chromosomal DNA with the interrupted gene and the selectable marker. Gene gun A "gene gun" Genealogical tree of Icelandic family A genealogical tree of an Icelandic family Genes involved in human sex determination A chart of the genes that are involved in human sex determination. Genome of Bacillus anthracis A graphical representation of the DNA sequence of Bacillus anthracis Genome of Deinococcus radiodurans The genetic sequence of Deinococcus radiodurans Gingerich's revised picture of whale evolution In the revised picture of whale evolution, cetaceans evolved from the artiodactyls, and not the mesonychids, as previously thought. The closest living relative to whales is now thought to be the hippo. Gorilla The gorilla, another living relative to humans Greater Koa finch Painting of Greater Koa finch. Group A streptococci Electron micrograph of an ultra-thin section of a chain of group A streptococci. The cell surface fibrils, consisting primarily of M protein, are clearly evident. The bacterial cell wall, to which the fibrils are attached, is also clearly seen as the light-staining region between the fibrils and the dark-staining cell interior. Incipient cell division is also indicated by the nascent septum formation (seen as an indentation of the cell wall) near the cell equator. The streptococcal cell diameter is equal to approximately one micron. (20,000x magnification) Haeckel's evolutionary tree A tree-like representation by Ernst Haeckel, a nineteenth-century evolutionary biologist Michael Bishop and Harold Varmus Michael Bishop, PhD, and Harold Varmus, PhD. They received the Nobel Prize in 1989 for their discovery that normal cells contain genes capable of becoming cancer genes. Head of Drosophila melanogaster Drosophila, the fruit fly, is a common model organism used in genetic research. It was one of the organisms sequenced in the Human Genome Project. Heap leach pad Heap leach operations, like this one operated by Kennecott, can contain a million tons of ore, piled a leak-proof pad. Adding water on top promotes the growth of microbes and starts the bioleach. Helper T cells regulate both humoral and cellular immunity A specialized macrophage ingests foreign antigens and displays antigen fragments along with MHC (self) molecules on its surface. A helper T cell (TH) with the appropriate receptor binds and responds by producing cytokines that stimulate antigen-specific B cells, as well as specific cytotoxic T cells. Hemagglutinin protein-pH 5 When the influenza virus enters a cell it is engulfed into an endosome. The pH inside the endosome lowers from 7 to 5, causing the hemagglutinin protein to change shape, open the endosome membrane, and let the viral material into the cell. Hemagglutinin protein-pH 7 When the influenza virus attaches and enters a cell, the hemagglutinin surface protein is at pH 7. A shape change caused by a lower pH is responsible for the hemmagglutinin to open the endosome and release viral material into the cell. HEP-2 cells in culture Hep-2 cells in culture (200x magnification, crystal violet stain, high density) Hippocampal neuron Double-labeled hippocampal neuron stained with yellow and red fluorescence Hippocampal neurons Two hippocampal neurons labeled with green fluorescent protein, viewed with confocal microscopy. Such neurons release and sense glutamate and engage in long-term potentiation (LTP). Note the synaptic connections between the lateral processes of the two neurons. HIV viruses HIV-1 by transmission electron microscopy, showing the mature virus particles that have budded off the nearby lymphocyte Hominid skull Example of a Hominid skull. Hominoid tree A tree showing the evolution of the hominoids, including the great apes and humans. Homo habilis skull specimen Example of Homo habilis skull. Human and chimp allele clustering For nearly all genes, human alleles cluster together and chimp alleles cluster together (left). In the case of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), human alleles are often more closely related to chimp alleles and vice-versa. This occurs due to balancing selection maintaining variation at the MHC (right). Human chromosomes Photo of human chromosomes. Human chromosomes Photo of human chromosomes. Human chromosomes Close-up photo of human chromosomes. Human fossil "bush" The human "bush," as postulated from fossil finds of hominid species. Human skull specimen An example of human skull. Hypotheses of human migration Left: The "Out of Africa," or "Replacement," hypothesis suggests all living humans evolved from a group that originated in Africa. Right: The "Multiregional" hypothesis suggests several groups evolved in parallel to form today's population of humans. Icelandic family genealogy text Icelandic people have kept careful records of their family histories for hundreds of years, aiding efforts to track disease patterns in their genes. Icelandic family photo A photograph of an Icelandic family. Influenza epidemic of 1918 Photo of the precautions taken by officials during the influenza epidemic of 1918. Janet Reimer holding her twins, Bruce and Brian Brenda and Brian are identical twins. Brenda was born a male and named Bruce. After a botched circumcision, scientists believed it was best to change him into a girl. This case, termed the "Joan/John case" in medical literature, has been used often in the argument for nurture's role in the gender identity. At 14, Brenda shed her upbringing as a female and began to live as a male. He took the name David, and has said that he never felt right as a female, disproving what the scientists believed: that nurture could fully override his genetic makeup. John Kendrew John Kendrew determined the structure of the myoglobin protein in 1957. He shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Max Perutz, who determined the structure of hemoglobin. Krings figure Figure from Cell paper on the study of Neanderthal DNA. Kutchicetus, an archaic whale An artistic reconstruction of Kutchicetus, an ancestor to modern whales, based on fossil evidence Leroy Hood Leroy Hood, MD, PhD, developed the automated genetic sequencer in 1986 and was a strong proponent of the Human Genome Project. He is the founder and president of the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, Washington. Light field of neurons and under fluorescence Neurons under light field and fluorescence microscopy Light organ of Euprymna scolopes Close-up of the light organ from the squid Euprymna scolopes. Locus ceruleus neuron Green fluorescent protein labeled neurons in a brain slice of the locus ceruleus Map of chromosome 3 showing location of PPARG gene All of the genes that have been identified on chromosome 3. A single nucleotide polymorphism mutation in the PPARG gene has been implicated in Type 2 diabetes. MAP2NF neuron photo Light microscopy image of branching neurons with many processes Mass extinctions The graph shows an approximate time line of loss of families of species from the earth during the five so-called "mass extinctions." Maternal inheritance Reciprocal F1 crosses involving maternal effect genes can produce different phenotypes. Max Perutz Max Perutz determined the structure of the hemoglobin protein in 1959. The work took him 22 years. He shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with John Kendrew, who discovered the structure of myoglobin. Megabat Photograph of an example of a megabat, the African fruit bat. Methamphetamine PET scan PET brain scans of a methamphetamine user and a control subject Mexican freetail bat Photograph of an example of a microbat, the Mexican freetail bat. Microarray experiment A. RNA is isolated from cells from two samples (in this illustration, infected and uninfected plant cells). B. The mRNA from both samples is copied to a more stable form, called cDNA, using reverse transcriptase. C. At the same time, the cDNA is labeled with fluorescent tags (a different color tag for each sample). D. The tagged cDNA is placed on the microarray chip, where it binds to the corresponding DNA that makes up the genes that have been previously spotted on the chip. E. The chip is placed in a laser scanner, which identifies the genes that hybridize to each sample (uninfected=green; infected=red; and both samples=yellow). F. The data are displayed on a computer screen where expression of the individual genes can be identified. Microinjection Photo of microininjection. Mitochondria Photomicrograph of mitochondria inside a cell Mitochondrial DNA phylogeny A phylogeny of mitochondrial DNA sequences from modern humans around the globe "Mitochondrial Eve" The diagram illustrates how one line of mitochondrial DNA came to be carried by all living humans, passed down to us through the "Mitochondrial Eve." Molecules of LTP 2 A schematic figure of the many molecules thought to be involved in long-term potentiation (LTP) Monkey kidney cells in culture Monkey kidney cells in culture, showing a typical patch of monolayer cells (100x magnification) Monophyletic, paraphyletic, and polyphyletic trees Examples of monophyletic (top), paraphyletic (middle), and polyphyletic (bottom) trees. Monophyly and diphyly of bat evolution Alternative possibilities of bat phylogeny. Top: Bats form a monophyletic clade, in which flight evolved once in mamals. Alternately, bottom, bats are diphyletic, and flight evolved twice in mammals. Mouse Mouse with ticks on ear Mouse ear with engorged ticks Mouse ear with engorged ticks attached to it MRI of brain A colored magnetic resonance image (MRI) of a human adult brain MRI of brain, side profile Side profile of brain MRI. Multiple labeled neurons Multiple labeled neurons in confocal microscopy Neanderthal and human skeletons A Neanderthal and an adult human skeleton side-by-side Neanderthal group Depiction of Neanderthal group. Neanderthal painting An artist's rendering of a Neanderthal community Neanderthal painting An artist's rendering of a Neanderthal man Neanderthal skeleton upright Photo of Neanderthal skeleton in the upright position. Neanderthal skull Skull of a Neanderthal whose DNA was used to determine that "Neanderthals were not our ancestors." Neuron Green fluorescent protein stains a hippocampal neuron. Neuron A neuron branching to many processes Neuron The parts of the neuron: information is received by dendrites, and action potentials are sent out from the cell body down the axon to the synaptic terminals. Neuron AMPA receptor AMPA receptors stained with green fluorescent protein Neuron CamKII Calcium-calmodulin kinase II (CamKII), an enzyme involved in long-term potentiation, is stained with green fluorescent protein on this hippocampal neuron. Neuron labeled in vivo Confocal microscopy of a multiple fluorescent-labeled neuron