Small Things Considered

Talmudic Question #155 ...and #156

Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever, is the only organism known to sur­vive in an acidic lysosome of its host cells. Why haven’t other intra­cellular bacteria developed this skill? If that's old hat for you, look at Talmudic Question #156 by Samantha Kwah... Read more →

Talmudic Question #154

Mycorrhizal fungi are known to carry out many activities beneficial to plants, such as transporting water and nutrients, protecting against pathogens, and permitting communication between plants. Do they also carry pathogens such as viruses or bacteria? If no, why not? Read more →

Talmudic Question #153

 
Take a 1000 year old sequoia tree. What genetic difference would you expect to find if you analyzed the various branches? Read more →

Talmudic Question #152

With the widespread use of alcohol-based disinfectants (hand dispensers seem to be all over), can you conceive of a bacterium becoming resistant other than by making spores? Read more →

Talmudic Question #151

Should a cellular life form be found outside our planet, would you guess it would look more like a coccus or a rod? Read more →

Talmudic Question #150

Apparently, the total weight of Bacteria on Earth exceeds that of Archaea. How come? Read more →

Talmudic Question #149

by Jeff Mahr | Why are there apparently no elec­tron transport chains in eukaryotic membranes? Read more →

Talmudic Question #148

We are not aware of many biological entities in the shape of a torus (doughnut), certainly not bacteria. Can you think of some, either uni- or multicellular? Read more →

Talmudic Question #147

by Bernie Strauss | CRISPR-cas9 supposedly has its antecedents in an immune type mechanism to protect bacteria from virus infections. How does this discovery fit with the Luria-Delbrück demonstration that resis­tance develops as a result of spontaneous mutation rather than being induced by infection? Of course, it is possible that both mecha­nisms operate but I haven't seen the question discussed... Read more →

Talmudic Question #146

The Gram-negative outer membrane li­po­po­ly­sac­cha­ri­de (LPS) has three components, Lipid A, the core, and the O-anti­gen side-chain. The O-side chain and parts of the core can be de­le­ted. In con­trast, Lipid A ap­pears to be es­sen­tial. Why do you think that is? Read more →