Define briefly about the selenium, Biology

Assignment Help:

Define briefly about the Selenium?

The element selenium was discovered in 1817 in association with the element sulphur. However, selenium as an essential nutrient remained unrecognized for many years, although selenium toxicity in horses and cattle, "blind staggers" and "alkali disease" was known since the 1930s. The first description of the dietary selenium deficiency in isolated populations in the People's Republic of China, was made in 1979. The disease known as Keshan disease, named for the country where it was first recognized, was characterized by cardiomyopathy affecting primarily children and young women. The disease was often fatal. The second selenium deficiency disease Kashin-Beck disease was reported in 1980. It was prevalent in China and Sino-Soviet border. Both the diseases were caused primarily due to selenium deficiency in the soil.

Selenium is a non metallic element and exists in several oxidation states which include Se2+, Se4+ and Se6+. The chemistry of selenium is similar to that of sulphur. Selenium replaces sulphur to form organic compounds such as selenocysteine and selenomethionine. Total selenium content of the body varies from 3-15 mg depending on the dietary intake. Approximately 30% of tissue selenium is contained in the liver, 15% in kidney, 30% in muscle and 10% in blood plasma. Much of tissue selenium is found in proteins as selenoanalogues of sulphur amino acids; other metabolically active forms include selenotrisulphides and other acid-labile selenium compounds.

 

 


Related Discussions:- Define briefly about the selenium

Explain salient features of pulmonary tuberculosis, Salient Features of pul...

Salient Features of pulmonary tuberculosis The salient features tuberculosis include: Wasting of tissues Exhaustion Cough Expectoration, and Fever The acute p

Schizocoelous pattern – coelom, Schizocoelous pattern – Coelom There ...

Schizocoelous pattern – Coelom There are two patterns of coelom formation in animals schizocoelous and enterocoelous. In schizocoelous pattern, two teloblasts cells (primordi

What is immuno adsorption, It is elimination of an antigen or antibody from...

It is elimination of an antigen or antibody from a sample by the process of adsorption, to which the complimentary antigen or antibody is bound.

Explain about the niacin (nicotinic acid) deficiency, Explain about the Nia...

Explain about the Niacin (nicotinic acid) deficiency? Niacin (nicotinic acid) deficiency classically results in pellagva, which is a chronic wasting disease associated with a c

Meiosis, Why is it necessary to have the second division in meiosis even th...

Why is it necessary to have the second division in meiosis even though cells have already been reduced to haploid number after the first division?

What is the endocrine function of the placenta, Q. What is the endocrine fu...

Q. What is the endocrine function of the placenta? The placenta is not a permanent gland of the endocrine system other than this it also has endocrinal function. The placenta p

Hassan, function of epithelial tissue

function of epithelial tissue

How is energy transferred along a food chain?, How is energy transferred al...

How is energy transferred along a food chain? The energy flux beside a food chain is always unidirectional, from the producers to the decomposers.

How much physical activity is enough, How much physical activity is enough?...

How much physical activity is enough? Although it is difficult to prescribe the optimum amount of physical activity, it is important to note that any exercise programme has to

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd