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

Write the meaning of hyperglycemia, Q. Write the meaning of Hyperglycemia? ...

Q. Write the meaning of Hyperglycemia? Hyperglycemia is a Greek term: hyper -meaning excessive; glyc - meaning sweet; and emia- means "of the blood". It is a condition in whic

Explain bone physiology and wound healing, Bone Physiology and Wound Healin...

Bone Physiology and Wound Healing The events involved in osseous wound healing around implants recapitulate the events of wound healing which is depicted in the flowchart.

Relation between fecundation and end of the meiotic process, Q. What is the...

Q. What is the relation between fecundation and the end of the meiotic process during oogenesis? The oocyte II only completes the second meiotic division (interrupted at metaph

What is ocean shorelines, Q. What is Ocean shorelines? Ocean shorelines...

Q. What is Ocean shorelines? Ocean shorelines include rocky coasts and sandy beaches that are particularly rich in diverse life forms. Rocky shorelines support a diversity of o

What is arteriole diameter, The axons of all the baroreceptors in the body ...

The axons of all the baroreceptors in the body were destroyed at 2 AM.  All else is normal.  Which of the following statements is true for the system at 2:10 AM when compared to th

Explain the regulation of blood glucose concentration, Explain the Regulati...

Explain the Regulation of Blood Glucose Concentration? A number of mechanisms function to maintain blood glucose at remarkably constant level of 70-100 mg/dl under fasting cond

Define the objectives in the biochemistry of the eye, Define the objectives...

Define the objectives in the biochemistry of the eye. After going by this section, you should be familiar with: a. Dynamic of vascular supply of eye; b. The cornea metabo

What is cellular grade. explain in brief., What is Cellular grade? Explain ...

What is Cellular grade? Explain in brief. Organisms with this kind of cellular organization are referred to as the parazoan. They have distinct cells which function independent

Describe promoter motifs commonly associated with eukaryotic, Gene expressi...

Gene expression must begin with the process of transcription a)  Describe the promoter motifs commonly associated with eukaryotic protein-coding genes, and explain their influen

Preventive measures of rheumatic fever, Preventive Measure Primary p...

Preventive Measure Primary prevention Early detection and treatment of group "A" b-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis. Penicillin is the commonly prescribed drug. Educ

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