Biotech Terms Glossary.

Glossary

Author: learncatachem

Enzymes

Enzymes are biological molecules that act as catalysts, accelerating chemical reactions within living organisms without being consumed in the process. These catalysts function by lowering the activation energy required for a specific chemical reaction to occur, thereby increasing the rate at which the reaction proceeds. Enzymes are typically proteins, although some RNA molecules also exhibit […]

Assays

Assays are essential tools used to detect, measure, or analyze specific biological molecules, compounds, or activities within a sample. Assays encompass a wide range of techniques and methodologies designed to quantify various biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, metabolites, and enzymes. From simple colorimetric tests to sophisticated molecular assays, biotechnologists utilize assays to explore the […]

Proteins

From a biotech perspective, proteins are fundamental biomolecules that play diverse and crucial roles in various research applications. Biotechnologists harness proteins for a multitude of purposes, ranging from enzyme catalysis and biochemical assays to protein engineering and structural biology studies. These versatile molecules serve as the building blocks of life and are essential for understanding […]

Lyophilized Pellets

In biotech research, lyophilized pellets are invaluable for preserving and storing biological materials such as proteins, enzymes, cells, and nucleic acids. Lyophilization, or freeze-drying, is a process that removes water from samples by freezing them and then subjecting them to reduced pressure, resulting in dry pellets with minimal moisture content. These lyophilized pellets offer enhanced […]

Oligos

Oligos, short for oligonucleotides, are short sequences of nucleotides, typically composed of 10 to 100 nucleotide units. These synthetic molecules are fundamental building blocks in molecular biology and biotechnology, serving a variety of purposes in research, diagnostics, and therapeutic applications. Oligos can be designed to match specific DNA or RNA sequences and are widely used […]

Lyophilized Oligos

Oligos, short for oligonucleotides, are custom-designed nucleic acid molecules typically composed of 10 to 100 nucleotides. Lyophilized oligos are short sequences of synthetic DNA or RNA molecules that have undergone the process of lyophilization, also known as freeze-drying. Lyophilization removes water from the oligo solution under vacuum conditions, resulting in a stable, dry powder form […]

Lyophilized Microbes

Lyophilized microbes refer to microorganisms that have undergone the process of lyophilization, also known as freeze-drying. Lyophilization is a technique used to preserve microbial cultures by removing water from the cells under vacuum conditions, resulting in a stable, dry powder form. This process allows for the long-term storage of microbial samples while maintaining their viability […]

Lyophilized Lipid Calibrators

Lyophilized lipid calibrators are standardized samples of lipids that have been subjected to the process of lyophilization, also known as freeze-drying. These calibrators are utilized in biotech research for the calibration and standardization of lipid measurement assays and analytical techniques. Lyophilization removes water from lipid samples under vacuum conditions, resulting in a stable, dry powder […]

Assays vs. Reagents

In the context of laboratory research and analysis, assays and reagents are both critical components, but they serve different purposes and have distinct roles in experimental workflows. An assay refers to a procedure or method used to detect, measure, or analyze a specific substance or activity in a sample. Assays can vary widely in complexity […]

Molybdate Assays

Molybdate assays refer to analytical techniques that utilize molybdate ions (MoO42-) as a reagent to detect and quantify specific analytes or substances in a sample. These assays rely on the formation of colored complexes between molybdate ions and the target analyte, which can be measured spectrophotometrically or visually to determine the concentration of the analyte […]