Pegomastax - Facts and Figures

Pegomastax - Facts and Figures Name: Pegomastax (Greek for thick jaw); pronounced PEG-oh-MAST-ax Habitat: Woodlands of southern Africa Historical Period: Early Jurassic (200 million years ago) Size and Weight: About two feet long and five pounds Diet: Plants Distinguishing Characteristics: Prominent fangs; short bristles on body About Pegomastax Some of the most notable dinosaur discoveries dont involve going out into the field with a shovel and pickax, but examining long-forgotten fossil specimens that have been filed away in dank museum basements. Thats the case with Pegomastax, which was recently named by Paul Sereno after he examined a neglected collection of fossils from southern Africa, which had been discovered in the early 1960s and stashed in Harvard Universitys extensive archives. Pegomastax was certainly an odd-looking dinosaur, at least by the standards of the early Mesozoic Era. About two feet long from head to tail, this close relative of Heterodontosaurus was equipped with a parrot-like beak studded by two prominent canines. The porcupine-like bristles that covered its body are reminiscent of the short, stiff, feathery protrusions of another herbivorous dinosaur, the late Jurassic Tianyulong, which was also an early ornithopod of the heterodontosaur family. Given its presumed plant-eating diet, why did Pegomastax have such sizable canines? Sereno speculates that this feature evolved not because Pegoamastax snacked occasionally on insects or rotting carcasses, but because it needed to a) defend itself against larger theropod dinosaurs and b) compete for the right to mate. If longer-toothed males were more likely to survive predation, and also more likely to attract females, you can see why natural selection would have favored Pegomastaxs fangs.

What Are Enzymes What Do They Do

What Are Enzymes What Do They Do SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Cells are the building blocks of life. All living things have cells - from small, single-celled organisms like bacteria to large, multicellular organisms like humans. Cells have specific functions that help keep these varied creatures alive and kicking. In order to make these functions happen, chemical reactions occur within cells. Oftentimes, these chemical reactions are sped up by a special kind of protein called an enzyme. In this article, we’re going to answer a few questions: what are enzymes, what are enzymes made of, and what types of enzymes exist. What Are Enzymes? Enzymes are a special kind of protein that are found in the cells of living organisms. Enzymes are made up of long chains of amino acids that are held together by peptide bonds. Enzymes help with processes like digestion, blood clotting, and hormone production. They basically either catalyze (cause) or speed up chemical reactions that take place in the bodies of living things. Typically, enzymes are only responsible for one kind of chemical reaction. So, an enzyme that helps with digestion won’t also help with blood clotting. We need enzymes because they help us initiate chemical reactions. For every chemical reaction, a specific amount of energy needs to be applied to the reactants before the reaction can happen. Enzymes help make reactions happen. It’s kind of like they are the final push over the hill before you can get a ball to roll down it. What Are Enzymes Made Of? As I mentioned in the previous section, enzymes are made up of long chains of amino acids. Some enzymes are only made up of one chain of amino acids, while others are made up of many chains of amino acids. Each enzyme is made up of a unique chain of amino acids (e.g., no two different types of enzymes have the same amino acid structure) and each enzyme also has its own unique shape. The 6 Types of Enzymes There are six main types of enzymes that occur in chemistry. Oxioreductases These types of enzymes help speed up oxidation and reduction reactions. Basically, they help move oxygen and hydrogen atoms from one place to another. Transferases These types of enzymes help groups of atoms transfer from molecule to molecule more quickly. Hydrolases These types of enzymes use water to break up single bonds between molecules. Many digestive enzymes are hydrolases and do things like break peptide bonds in proteins. Lyases Lyases are similar to hydrolases - they break up or form molecular bonds. Unlike hydrolases, they don’t use water as part of their reaction. Isomerases These types of enzymes speed up isomerization reactions. They rearrange the atoms of a reactant to form an isomer (a molecule with the same chemical formula, but different arrange of atoms than the original reactant). Ligases Ligases enhance the rate of joining of two molecules by using the energy obtained from the breakdown of ATP. How Different Types of Enzymes Work in the Body There are different types of enzymes in the body that can broadly be classified into metabolic, digestive, and food enzymes. Metabolic enzymes are responsible for reactions related to detoxification and energy production. Many of these enzymes occur in the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. Metabolic enzymes help us use what we get from food (e.g., protein, fat, and carbohydrates) to make sure that our cells are working, clean, and healthy. Digestive enzymes help break down the foods we eat and convert them into energy. An example of these types of enzymes is the enzyme amylase, which breaks down starch into simple sugars.The three most importantdigestive enzymesare protease, amylase, and lipase, which digest protein, carbohydrate, and fat, respectively. Food enzymes aren’t naturally present in the body - we get them from the food we eat or from supplements. An example of a food enzyme is cellulase - we use cellulase to digest fibers, but it’s not produced in the body. We have to get it from the foods we eat. Food enzymes help digestive enzymes do their job and break down what we consume. Here are a few more types of enzymespresent in our body and what they do. Lactase: breaks down lactose, the complex sugar in milk products. Lactose-intolerant people don't have enough of this enzyme. Pectinase: breaks down pectin-rich foods such as citrus fruits, apples, carrots, potatoes, beets, and tomatoes. Bromelain: breaks down food protein into smaller peptones by hydrolysis; helps the body to fight cancer, improves circulation, and treats inflammation. Papain: aids the body in digestion. Catalase: breaks down hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. Plays an important role in immune function. Enzyme Definition: Key Takeaways Enzymes are an important kind of protein that help us do many things, including: Break down food into energy Detoxify parts of our body Form new bonds between molecules Enzymes are made of chains of proteins called amino acids. Some of them are naturally occurring in the human body and others we need to consume through food. What's Next? Writing a research paper for school but not sure what to write about? Our guide to research paper topics has over 100 topics in ten categories so you can be sure to find the perfect topic for you. Want to know the fastest and easiest ways to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius? We've got you covered! Check out our guide to the best ways to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit (or vice versa). Are you studying clouds in your science class? Get help identifying the different types of clouds with our expert guide.

The Influence of Using YouTube to Improve English for EFL Students Essay

The Influence of Using YouTube to Improve English for EFL Students - Essay Example According to the paper access to great positions and attractive pay rates requires English capability to communicate. In countries where English is not, the first or main language used there has been a growth in teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Due to this worldwide demand, there has been a growth in teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) in countries where English is not first or main language. Therefore, the education system in Saudi Arabia is containing English as one of the most significant majors nowadays. This study highlights even though the government through its Ministry of Education has outlined the objectives of the English language, the goal is yet to be achieved. The ministry aims to ensure improvement in students’ listening, reading, writing and speaking skills abilities. Furthermore, the ministry endeavours to assist students acquire the necessary linguistic competences relating to life. However, these and other objectives encounter challenges as the one stated above. The ministry’s goal is to equip and develop development skills to the students rather than just the role learning. In essence, EFL implies that the English language is not viewed as a primary language, and that the locals have their first language. In these cases, countries tend to use their first language even in the learning, meaning students seldom perform well in English-related tasks, including speaking and writing. When learners become less acquainted with the English language, the end-result is that their competitive advantage especially in the international affairs is adversely affected. Surprisingly, some countries use the first language in the education sector up to university level.