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InSilico Codex, Inside My Followers Heart, New York, NY (2026)

01/23/2026

Today this reminded me of something I saw a few years ago. I watched a small child throw trash on the road while an older man quietly cleaned it up behind him. That moment stayed with me.

I realized education is not just about books or degrees, it’s about basic manners. Using a dustbin is such a small act, but it shows care for people around us.

I try to remember this every day.

01/22/2026

🧫🧪 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝘀 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝟳𝟬% 𝗔𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝟵𝟬%+ 𝗧𝗼 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮?
It sounds logical to think higher alcohol = stronger disinfectant 🤔
But in microbiology and laboratories, 70% alcohol is actually more effective than 90% or absolute alcohol.
────────────────────
🔹 𝗞𝗘𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗦
🧬 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿
• Alcohol kills bacteria by denaturing proteins
• Water helps alcohol pe*****te the cell wall
• 70% alcohol denatures proteins more effectively
────────────────────
⏱️ 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲
• 90%+ alcohol evaporates very fast
• 70% alcohol stays on the surface longer
• More contact time = better microbial kill
────────────────────
🛡️ 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹
• High-concentration alcohol can harden the outer cell wall
• This creates a protective layer around bacteria
• 70% alcohol avoids this effect and kills more efficiently
────────────────────
📊 𝗦𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗡
• 70% Alcohol → Optimal pe*******on + effective kill ✅
• 90%+ Alcohol → Fast evaporation + reduced pe*******on ❌
────────────────────
💡 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬
In laboratories, hospitals, and food industries,
𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵.
That’s why 70% alcohol remains the gold standard. 🧪✔️

01/21/2026

Empowering University Students in Biological Techniques 🎓
STEM X | Winter Internship Program 2025

01/19/2026

Human Respiratory System

01/17/2026

What makes a good primer?

Here are some guidelines for designing your PCR primers:

Aim for the GC content to be between 40 and 60% with the 3’ of a primer ending in G or C to promote binding. This is known as a GC Clamp. The G and C bases have stronger hydrogen bonding and help with the stability of the primer. Be mindful not to have too many repeating G or C bases, as this can cause primer-dimer formation.

A good length for PCR primers is generally around 18-30 bases. Specificity usually is dependent on length and annealing temperature. The shorter the primers are, the more efficiently they will bind or anneal to the target.

Try to make the melting temperature (Tm) of the primers between 65°C and 75°C, and within 5°C of each other. Because the Tm is dependent on the length, it’s important to keep primers on the shorter end. The bases also impact the Tm, G and C result in higher melting temperatures than A and T. If the Tm of your primer is very low, try to find a sequence with more GC content, or extend the length of the primer a little.

Typically, 3 to 4 nucleotides are added 5 ’of the restriction enzyme site in the primer to allow for efficient cutting.

Try to avoid regions of secondary structure and have a balanced distribution of GC-rich and AT-rich domains.

Try to avoid runs of 4 or more of one base, or dinucleotide repeats (for example, ACCCC or ATATATAT).

Avoid intra-primer homology (more than 3 bases that complement within the primer) or inter-primer homology (forward and reverse primers having complementary sequences). These circumstances can lead to self-dimers or primer-dimers instead of annealing to the desired DNA sequences.

If you are using the primers for cloning, we recommend cartridge purification as a minimum level of purification.

If you are using the primers for mutagenesis, try to have the mismatched bases towards the middle of the primer.

If you are using the primers for a PCR reaction to be used in Invitrogen TOPO cloning, the primers should not have a phosphate modification.

12/25/2025

Diabetes is often misunderstood as a simple condition managed by eating carefully, counting carbohydrates, and taking insulin, but reality is far more complex. Blood sugar levels are influenced by dozens of factors beyond food, including stress, hormones, sleep quality, physical activity, illness, medications, and emotional health. Managing all these variables at the same time requires constant attention, planning, and adjustment, and even then, outcomes are not always predictable. This complexity makes diabetes physically and mentally demanding, not only for a short period but throughout life. The idea that diabetes is “easy” minimizes the daily effort, discipline, and resilience required to stay healthy. Until an effective cure is discovered, living with diabetes will remain challenging, requiring ongoing self-management, medical support, and understanding from society. Recognizing this reality is essential to replacing stigma with empathy and acknowledging the strength of those who live with diabetes every day.
Prejeesh Sreedharan Molecular Biology and Evolution (MBE) Biology Tonic

12/25/2025

🩸 Blood as a Drug: A Pharmacology Perspective

In pharmacology, we often think of drugs as chemical substances. But human blood and its components are also considered drugs because they are used therapeutically with defined indications, doses, routes of administration, and potential adverse effects.

Blood is not just transfused as a whole. It is separated into specific components, each acting like a targeted drug:

🔴 Red Blood Cells
Used to treat anemia and acute blood loss by improving oxygen delivery.

🟡 Plasma
Acts as a volume expander and source of clotting factors in burns, shock, liver disease, and coagulation disorders.

🟠 Platelets
Used as hemostatic agents to control bleeding, especially in cancer patients and thrombocytopenia.

🧬 Cryoprecipitate
A concentrated source of clotting factors, used in hemophilia and severe bleeding.

🩸 Whole Blood
Used in massive trauma and emergency situations for complete replacement therapy.

This is why, in pharmacology, blood is regulated, prescribed, dosed, stored, and monitored just like any other drug.

Understanding blood as a drug helps healthcare professionals use it more safely and effectively.

Prejeesh Sreedharan OmicsLogic: Data Science, Bioinformatics and Biomedical Research Biology Tonic Molecular Biology and Evolution (MBE) Genetics & Genomics Healthy Habits

Courtesy: Sabir Khan ( LinkedIn)

12/18/2025

🔬 Southern, Northern & Western Blotting – The Trio of Molecular Biology

In cell biology, DNA, RNA, and proteins are the fundamental biomolecules, and studying them requires powerful techniques. Three classic blotting methods help us analyze these molecules with precision:

🧬 Southern Blot – Detects DNA fragments using complementary DNA/RNA probes. Useful for studying gene organization, mutations, and copy number variations.

🧾 Northern Blot – Detects RNA transcripts (like mRNA) using complementary probes. Helps in understanding gene expression patterns.

💪 Western Blot – Detects proteins (polypeptides) using specific antibodies. Widely used for protein expression, modifications, and validation in research and diagnostics.

👉 Together, these methods bridge the gap between genetics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, giving us a complete picture of cellular function.

12/18/2025

HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin)

HbA1c is haemoglobin that has glucose attached to it. It reflects the average blood glucose level over the previous 2 to 3 months, corresponding to the lifespan of red blood cells.

Clinical Uses

HbA1c is used to:
• Diagnose diabetes mellitus
• Monitor long-term glycaemic control
• Assess risk of chronic diabetic complications
• Evaluate response to treatment

Interpretation
• A value below 5.7% is considered normal
• 5.7–6.4% indicates prediabetes
• 6.5% or higher is diagnostic of diabetes mellitus (confirmation recommended if asymptomatic)

Treatment Targets
• Most non-pregnant adults: less than 7%
• Young, newly diagnosed patients: around 6.5%
• Elderly patients or those with multiple comorbidities: 7.5–8%, individualized

Advantages
• Does not require fasting
• Reflects long-term glucose control
• Less affected by daily glucose fluctuations

Limitations

HbA1c may give inaccurate results in:
• Hemolytic anaemia
• Recent blood loss or transfusion
• Pregnancy
• Advanced chronic kidney disease
• Hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell disease

Factors Affecting HbA1c
• Falsely low values: hemolysis, acute blood loss, pregnancy
• Falsely high values: iron deficiency anaemia, vitamin B12 deficiency

Frequency of Testing
• Every 6 months in patients with stable glycaemic control
• Every 3 months when control is poor or treatment is adjusted

Prejeesh Sreedharan Biology Tonic

12/18/2025

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

The gene editing market is moving fast. US$4.44 billion in 2023 became US$4.66 billion in 2024. By 2029, the market is projected to reach US$7.59 billion. That growth reflects a resilient 10.2% CAGR from 2024 to 2029.

Here is what is driving the momentum.

→ Expanding scope of gene editing applications across the market.

But growth is not frictionless.

→ Off-target effects and safety concerns remain a real restraint.

The next phase of growth is already forming.

→ Technological advancements in Prime editing and bridge RNA create new opportunity.

Ex*****on still decides who wins.

→ Scalability issues in gene editing workflows remain a core challenge.

The market is clear, the numbers are real, and the direction is set.
The gene editing market is growing from US$4.44B in 2023 to a projected US$7.59B by 2029. Growth is driven by expanding applications and a 10.2% CAGR. Safety, off-target effects, and scalability will define the winners.

Prejeesh Sreedharan OmicsLogic: Data Science, Bioinformatics and Biomedical Research Concept Biology

12/18/2025

🧬 Telomeres: The Tiny Caps That Control Aging, Health & Cell Survival

Your DNA carries the blueprint of life—but at the very ends of your chromosomes lie telomeres, the protective caps that make sure your genetic code stays safe. Think of them as the plastic tips of shoelaces, preventing your chromosomes from fraying, breaking, or sticking together.

These caps are made of repeating DNA sequences (TTAGGG in humans), and although they don’t code for proteins, they are essential for keeping your cells healthy each time they divide.

🧨 Why Do Telomeres Get Shorter?

Every time a cell divides, it loses a tiny bit of telomere length due to the “end-replication problem”—DNA polymerase simply can’t copy the extreme ends.
But lifestyle factors can speed up this loss:

• Stress
• Smoking
• Inflammation
• Aging
• Poor diet
• Environmental toxins

Shorter telomeres mean your cells are closer to aging, dysfunction, or death.

🔧 Telomerase – The Enzyme That Refills Telomeres

Your body isn’t helpless—telomerase acts as a “telomere repair machine.”
Its job: add back lost telomere repeats and extend chromosome life.

It is active in:
• Germ cells
• Stem cells
• Cancer cells (which helps them divide endlessly)

This makes telomerase a major focus in cancer therapy and longevity research.

✨ Why Telomeres Matter So Much

Telomeres protect your DNA every time your cells divide. Without them, essential genes would get damaged, leading to severe aging or disease.

When telomeres become too short:
• Cells stop dividing
• They enter senescence (permanent rest)
• Or undergo apoptosis (programmed death)

This is why telomere length is considered a biological aging marker.

Longer telomeres = healthier cells, slower aging
Shorter telomeres = higher aging and disease risk

🔬 Real-Life Connections

1️⃣ Aging & Longevity
Humans lose ~50–100 telomere bases with each cell division.
People who live longer naturally have slower telomere shortening.

2️⃣ Cancer Biology
Cancer cells reactivate telomerase, giving them “immortality.”
Targeting telomerase is a powerful anti-cancer strategy.

⭐ Quick Facts

• Telomere length can predict aging speed
• Stress accelerates telomere loss
• Nobel Prize (2009) was awarded for telomere discovery
• Stem cells maintain telomeres to keep renewing your body

🌟 The Bottom Line

Telomeres may be tiny, but they are one of the most powerful biomarkers of your health, longevity, and disease risk.
Protecting them means protecting your DNA—and your future.

Prejeesh Sreedharan OmicsLogic: Data Science, Bioinformatics and Biomedical Research Concept Biology Biology Tonic

Courtesy: Scoolam Foundation

12/17/2025

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InSilico Codex

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