Chemistry in its element – green fluorescent protein

It used to be just for jellyfish, but now everything from mice to monkeys is sporting that fetching green fluorescence. However, it’s not all fun and games and glowing gerbils – there’s some serious science here. Josh Howgego tells the story Osamu Shimomura and the green fluorescent protein in this week’s Chemistry in its element podcast.

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Frankincense and myrrh

Christmas is gently creeping up on us and the tills are merrily ringing as we pound the high street in search of suitable offerings to please our kith and kin. But however far you travel and however much you spend in your seasonally-sanctioned extravagance, you’d have to go some way to beat the efforts of the inaugural yuletide gift-givers: Melchior, Casper and Balthazar. These three – the magi of the nativity story – tramped across the Middle East to present Christmas’ namesake with their precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The significance of these gifts gives biblical scholars much meat to chew upon; thought to be an acknowledgement of Jesus’ kingship or representative of his godhood and death. But these days, while manys an item of gold will be carefully interred in a paper prison to await liberation on Christmas morn, it’s unlikely you’ll find either of the others in your stocking. And would you even know it if you did?

Well, prepare to find out: frankincense and myrrh are tree resins (frankincense from Boswellia trees and myrrh from Commiphora, both natives to the Arabian peninsula) and 2000 years ago, they were certainly fit gifts for a king. At the height of their popularity they were worth their weight in gold, and were heavily traded.



Which is which?


They have been used since antiquity by a host of cultures, principally as incense in religious ceremony – both are listed in the Jewish holy book, the Talmud, as ingredients of the sacred blend of fragrant spices and incense called ketaret, which was used to perfume the air in temple rituals and worship. Their fragrant properties also found them applications in cosmetic perfume and they had various medicinal uses.


Though the trade has slowed today, many of these uses persist – frankincense is still to be found in perfumes and cosmetics and myrrh’s antiseptic properties have secured it a place in mouthwash and toothpaste, among other things. More recently, these riches of the plant kingdom’s treasure trove have been plundered for their potential to fight disease. Frankincense’s boswellic acid, for example, has proven to be effective at controlling cancer cells and a sesquiterpenoid isolated from myrrh extract was also shown to have promising anticancer activity. If only someone would mount them on gold nanoparticles…

Perhaps more interesting, incensole acetate, another of frankincense’s chemical constituents, was recently assigned psychoactive properties – acting as a sedative and reducing anxiety in mice. Its role in spiritual ceremonies is somewhat more practical in this light.

So there you have it. A whistle-stop tour of frankincense and myrrh; perhaps now you know a little more than you did. And, if you’re giving gold and perfume this year, why not follow a wise man’s example and throw in some mouthwash too?

Philip Robinson

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H-index movers and shakers

The latest update to Chemistry World’s h-index ranking of living chemists is out. Unsurprisingly, Harvard University’s George Whitesides is undisturbed at the top of the tree, but there are a few climbers in the chart this time around.

Michael Grätzel of dye-sensitised solar cell fame,  has charged into the top five from 11th position in March, and Krzysztof Matyjaszewski from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, US, climbs nearly 20 places from 40th in March to 23rd.

What does this mean? Are DSSCs finally going to make good on their promise of recent years? Is atom-transfer radical polymerisation about to take over the world? Well, who knows – but its fun to watch the rollercoaster go up and down and round and around…

Phillip Broadwith

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Organic Chemistry (TGIB) – Video

Thank God it's Bio! For Mrs. Gaffney's Biology class. A delightful song about organic chemistry to the tune of Katy Perry's Last Friday Night (TGIF) The karaoke track is from TheHMKARAOKEMC's YouTube Channel! -Thanks! Organic Chemistry (TGIB) When I wake up in my bed science swimming in my head DNA and ATP It's organic chemistry! There's organic molecules Carbohydrates, Lipids too You've got Proteins and DNA With ATP I'll find a way Organic chemistry used to be hard for me but now I know With the science of life I will be all right and now I think it rules Organic Chemistry Carbohydrates are just swell make up structures of the cell are a source of energy Organic chemistry oh it isn't very hard simple sugars make up carbs synthesis can make it starch Organic Chemistry Oh Organic molecules Follow very simple rules Have carbon and have hydrogen Organic chemistry yeah I think I got this right It's the chemistry of life Whoa-oh-oah Organic Chemistry Learn it all again Organic Chemistry Learn it all again and Up next is ATP All living things need energy adenosine triphosphate it powers life so don't you hate Next up, Lipids are a ball Fatty acids, glycerol Store energy as well Make up the membrane of the cell Organic chemistry used to be hard for me but now I know With the science of life I will be all right and now I think it rules Organic Chemistry DNA has nucleotides and their bonded down one side Sugar phosphate and a base Organic Chemistry Adenine and thymine Cytosine and ...

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Organic Chemistry (TGIB) - Video

Chemistry does not exist in America – Video

American women are so materialistic, according to most of them, chemistry means a man who fits all their insane checklist. In terms of dating, a man must have the following basics: money, type of car, tall and in shape, funny, romantic, etc but she doesnt have to fit any of your qualities. Nothing about these american women are real, they have no substance

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Chemistry does not exist in America - Video

FIFA 12 Ultimate Team | Formation Chemistry Explained | In Depth Ep. 1 – Video

Leave a like if this helped you out! Let's get to 500 Likes! (Yesterday's episode got close to 400!) 😀 Let me know if you would like to see these more often! Twitter @jackatack45 to figure out when I stream @ http://www.twitch.tv Looking for more FIFA 12 action? Come check out my channel for more everyday! 😛 Check out my Happy Hour Pack Attack! http://www.youtube.com

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FIFA 12 Ultimate Team | Formation Chemistry Explained | In Depth Ep. 1 - Video

euronews learning world – Chemistry in the classroom – Video

http://www.euronews.net Chemistry both mystifies and fascinates students. In the International Year of Chemistry, people are looking at new, creative ways of teaching it. The European Chemicals Agency is based in Helsinki, and close by is a school which caters for the children of those working at the agency.

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euronews learning world - Chemistry in the classroom - Video