Nitrogen fixation is a process by which molecular nitrogen in the air is converted into ammonia (NH3) or related nitrogenous compounds in soil. Atmospheric nitrogen is a relatively nonreactive molecule that is metabolically useless to all but a few microorganisms. Biological nitrogen fixation converts N2 into ammonia, which is metabolized by …

The nitrogen cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which nitrogen is converted into multiple chemical forms as it circulates among the atmosphere, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems. The conversion of nitrogen can be carried out through both biological and physical processes. Important processes in the nitrogen cycle include fixation, ammonification, nitrification, …

Positive and negative interactions take place not only between microbes but also between microbes and plants. The rhizosphere is a zone of predominantly commensal and mutualistic interactions þetween microbes and plants. Plant roots provide such suitable habitats for the growth of microorganisms that high numbers of different microbial populations are …

Organisms living together in a community influence each other directly or indirectly under natural conditions. All vital process of living such as growth, nutrition, reproduction required interactions between individuals of same species, or between species which are inter and intra-related. Such relationships of individuals in a population of an ecosystem …

Polysaccharides are polymeric carbohydrate molecules composed of long chains of monosaccharide unit bound together by glycosidic linkage. Example: starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin etc. Characteristics of polysaccharide On hydrolysis, they yield monosaccharide units which are usually similar. D glucose is the commonest component of polysaccharide. They have high molecular weight. They …

A disaccharide, also called double sugar, is the sugar formed when two monosaccharides (simple sugars) are joined by a glycosidic linkage. Like monosaccharides, disaccharides are soluble in water. Three common examples are sucrose, lactose, and maltose. Disaccharides are one of the four chemical groupings of carbohydrates (monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides). The most common …

The word protein refers to a type of molecule in food that can be broken down into amino acids. They are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. Protein accounts on average about 1/4th to 1/3rd of …

Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction that takes place inside a plant, producing sugar type food for the plant to survive. Carbon dioxide, water and light are all needed for photosynthesis to take place. It happens in the leaves of a plant and the other green portions as well. Photosynthesis is a …

Did you know that the average American family spends almost $2,000 a year on energy bills? That’s a lot of money! In this blog post, we will discuss some simple ways that you can save money and the environment by making changes to your home. We will cover everything from …

Transposons were first discovered in corn (maize) during the 1940s and ’50s by American scientist Barbara McClintock, whose work won her the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1983. The colourful pattern on maize ears have an important scientific significance. Modern research have shown that the stripes and spots …