The vertical line test is a quick way to determine if a given relationship is a function. In this lesson, you’ll learn more about functions and how the vertical line test can be used to recognize a function. The Function Machine In mathematics, a function is a relationship between a set of inputs and their […]
The ability to determine the DNA sequence of an individual is a powerful tool for paternity questions and criminal investigations, among other uses. This lesson will describe one laboratory method that can be used to sequence DNA. Sanger Sequencing Method Reporter: Professor Pear, I think our readers are going to enjoy learning how forensic scientists […]
In this lesson, we will look at helping, or auxiliary, verbs and their roles in sentences. As the name indicates, helping verbs assist in making verbs complete, and they help with sentence meaning. Definition of Helping Verbs Helping verbs are verbs that come before the main verb, or the verb describing the action of the […]
Scientific notation is very useful, especially when one is working with huge numbers or microscopic ones. This lesson will help make scientific notation less confusing and clarify when and how it is used. What Is Scientific Notation? If you were planning a trip to the nearest multiple-planet solar system to ours (Gliese), maybe to visit […]
This lesson will review the concepts and mechanisms of agarose gel electrophoresis. It will also summarize the equipment needed to perform the procedure for DNA analysis. Agarose Gel Gel electrophoresis is a laboratory procedure used to separate biological molecules with an electrical current. In this lesson, we’ll review how agarose gel electrophoresis works and introduce […]
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a biotechnology technique that is used to amplify pieces of DNA. In this lesson, you will learn about five ingredients necessary to perform PCR: template DNA, nucleotides, primers, buffer and Taq polymerase. PCR in Forensics Reporter: Professor Pear, your testimony, which helped prove that Colonel Custard was not the Spiral […]
In this lesson, we’ll look at the grammatical structure of the English language. What are the basic parts of speech that make up the building blocks of sentences? Keep reading, and you’ll see! What Is Grammar? Grammar is the breaking down of the building blocks, or parts of speech, in language, and the use of […]
Agarose gel electrophoresis plays a key role in genetic engineering experiments. In this lesson, you’ll learn what agarose is and how electrophoresis works. You’ll also discover the use of agarose in this procedure. Review of Genetic Engineering So far, we’ve learned that genetic engineering involves changing the genetic makeup of an organism. We’ve been exploring […]
In this lesson, you will learn why the slope of a vertical line is called undefined or infinite. You will also learn about the equation of a line with undefined slope. What Is an Undefined Slope? The slope of a line is undefined if the line is vertical. If you think of slope as rise […]
In this lesson, we’ll review place value and find out how it’s useful when writing numbers in expanded form. We’ll also look at a few examples of numbers written out in expanded form. Place Value What makes a number mean what it does? Is it simply the digits in the number? For example, let’s consider […]
