Monday, January 26, 2009

Homozygous


An organism is homozygous for a particular gene when identical alleles of the gene are present on both homologous chromosomes. The cell or organism in question is called a homozygote. True breeding organisms are always homozygous for the traits that are to be held constant.

An individual that is homozygous dominant for a particular trait carries two copies of the allele that codes for the dominant trait. This allele, often called the "dominant allele", is normally represented by a capital letter (such as "P" for purple flowers, which are dominant in pea plants). When an organism is homozygous dominant for a particular trait, the genotype is represented by a doubling of the symbol for that trait, such as "PP".

An individual that is homozygous recessive for a particular trait carries two copies of the allele that codes for the recessive trait. This allele, often called the "recessive allele" is usually represented by the lowercase form of the letter used for the corresponding dominant trait (such as, with reference to the example above, "p" for white flowers, which are recessive in pea plants). The genotype of an organism that is homozygous recessive for a particular trait is represented by a doubling of the appropriate letter, such as "pp".

Monday, January 19, 2009

Cedars of God

The Cedars of God are among the last survivors of the immense forests of the Cedars of Lebanon that thrived across Mount Lebanon in ancient times. Their timber was exploited by the Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians as well as the Phoenicians. The wood was especially prized by Egyptians for shipbuilding; Solomon used them in the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem and the Ottoman Empire also used the cedars to build its railroad system.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Cotton Tree


The Cotton Tree is a historic symbol of Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone. It was found growing in the town centre in 1792 when a group of former African American slaves, who had gained their freedom by escaping to the British during the American War of Independence, joined the settlement and gave it the name Freetown. The tree is also the site for offering prayers for peace and prosperity.

Various members of the botanical family Bombacaceae (genus Bombax) are often called Silk-cotton tree.

The flowering plant, Hibiscus tiliaceus is sometimes known as the Cotton Tree.
Kapok, Java cotton tree.Cottontree, a village in Lancashire, England

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Polyester


Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Polyesters include naturally-occurring chemicals, such as in the cutin of plant cuticles, as well as synthetics such as polycarbonate and polybutyrate.

Polyesters may be produced in numerous forms such as sheets and three-dimensional shapes. Polyesters as thermoplastics may change shape after the application of heat. While combustible at high temperatures, polyesters tend to shrink away from flames and self-extinguish upon ignition. Polyester fibers have high tenacity and E-modulus as well as low water absorption and minimal shrinkage in comparison with other industrial fibers.

Woven polyester fabrics are used in consumer apparel and home furnishings such as bed sheets, bedspreads, curtains and draperies. Similarly, industrial polyesters are used in tyre reinforcements, ropes, fabrics for conveyor belts, safety belts, coated fabrics and plastic reinforcements with high energy absorption. Polyester fiberfills are also used to stuff pillows, comforters and cushion padding.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Morokweng crater


Morokweng crater (or Morokweng impact structure) is a large meteorite crater buried beneath the Kalahari Desert near the town of Morokweng in the Northwest Province of South Africa, close to the border with Botswana.

The crater, formed by an asteroid 5-10 kilometers (3-6 mi) in diameter, is at least 70 kilometers (43 mi) in diameter and the age is estimated to be 145.0 ± 0.8 million years, placing it on the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary. Discovered in 1994, it is not exposed at the surface but has been mapped by magnetic and gravimetric surveys. Core samples have shown it to have been formed by the impact of an L chondrite asteroid.

In May, 2006, a group of scientists drilling into the site announced the discovery of a 25-centimetre (9.8 in) diameter fragment of the original asteroid at a depth of 770 metres (2,500 ft) below the surface, along with several much smaller pieces a few millimetres across at other depths. This discovery was unexpected since previous drillings on large impact craters had not produced such fragments, and it was thought that the asteroid had been almost entirely vaporised.[3] Some of the fragments can be seen in the Antenna Wing of London's Science Museum.