BI: v1

PROTEINS AND GLOW:  There are many different proteins in the human body.  Actin-myosin is found in muscles, and collagen in bones. Opsin proteins in the eyes give us the gift of sight.  How many different proteins are found in the human body?

PROTEINS AND GLOW:  In our eyes there are unique opsin proteins. When they are struck by specific frequencies of light, they will react in a way that our cells can detect.

RESILIN:  Resilin is super rubber–the most elastic material on earth.  

RESILIN:  When a balloon or rubber band is repeatedly stretched, it becomes unable to spring back to its old shape. On the other hand, Insect resilin proteins can be stretched a hundred thousand times and still not lose their elasticity.

RESILIN:  A dragonfly’s tendons are made of resilin. When a dragonfly moves its wings up and down,  his tendons are repeatedly stretched. After each stroke, the resilin tendons snap the wings back to make the next stroke easier for the dragonfly. 

SUPER GLUE:  Oysters have the strongest underwater glue known to man. This protein glue is being rigorously studied at labs for applications like mending bleeding spots during operations, repairing damage to a ship’s hull while at sea, and making waterproof bandages that can stay on, regardless of how long they are underwater.

SUPER GLUE:   There’s a big problem to making this super glue, though. To replicate this super-glue, the amino acid, DOPA, a critical part of the glue protein, needs to be replicated. DOPA is what enables the waterproof mussel glue to stick to almost anything including rocks, wood, and metal.

SUPER GLUE:  The dilemma researchers are faced with is that to be made in great quantities, DOPA needs to be manufactured by bacteria. But the microscopic bacteria can’t degrade it.

The only type of true protein is the kind found in muscles–the kind we get when we eat meat. Soy proteins and other proteins are made from meat proteins.

We liken proteins to one specific thing.  Because proteins are such unique amazing molecules, we like to liken them to what you see at what kind of store?