Archive for November, 2009
Last weekend some friends and I decided to go on a weekend camping trip in the Cascade Mountains. Although we are all accustomed to roughing it, we always seem to leave a key piece of equipment behind. The trip started out well enough, but when we were within a few miles of our campground, I hit a rut in the road and got a flat tire.
When we got out of the car to make the repairs, we were miles away from any other people, let along a lighted area. I usually keep a Pelican flashlight in my car, but my dad had taken it out for to do some electrical work in our crawlspace. Much to our chagrin, we were forced to change the tire with nothing but our cell phone backlighting to guide us.
Protein synthesis, one of the essential processes for sustaining life, is only possible through the use of amino acids. There are twenty distinct amino acids, and they each have a unique design and purpose. Amino acids are generally found in high protein foods or can be obtained through supplements.
One of the most beneficial nonessential amino acids is tyrosine. Although it is essential only in certain circumstances, tyrosine is a crucial component of photosynthesis in plants. It also has many benefits for animal life, including reducing stress hormone levels.