Social Conflict in the Work of Marx and Weber

Introduction Philosophers describe conflict as the disagreement of authority. According to these philosophers, power can take on different forms depending on the person at the helm. While some form of power might be humane and manipulative, another might as well be coercive and physical. While some people in power might choose to lead in an assertive and bargaining way, others decide to do so in an inductive and rational manner.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Conflict in the Work of Marx and Weber specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Due to the variations in the forms of power, there is usually the likelihood of manifestation of conflict. In this light, social conflict therefore addresses the confrontation of social powers. Ideally, all social theorists seek to address power or conflict based on social powers and their dialectics. (Cattell, 1957, p. 23)This essay seeks to examine the status of social conflict in the work of both Karl Marx and Max Weber. Karl Marx According to Marx, the society encompasses an existing balance of opposing forces that give rise to social change by their constant tension and struggle. In presenting his theory, Marx based his vision on an evolutionary point, which was contrary to the theories existing at that time. For him, tension and struggle rather than passive development was the driving force of progress. Marx considered strife the father of all good things and social conflict the center of chronological progression. This philosophy presented by Marx deviated from earlier versions but corresponded with the 19th century view of society. According to Marx, the need for adequate food and drink, of housing and for clothing were man’s chief goals at the beginning of the race, and these needs are still fundamental when efforts are made to scrutinize the intricate structure of contemporary society. However, man’s strive against nature does not st op once these pursuits are attained. If translated literally, this statement means that meeting one need gives rise to a host of others and this becomes a sort of a vicious cycle. (Giddens, 1983, p. 101) In their bid to gratify both the principal and inferior needs, men engage in aggressive cooperation immediately they leave the primeval, shared period of development. According to Marx, specialization brings with it opposition of ideas from the different classes. In his hypotheses, Marx claimed that all social relations between men, as well as the existing systems of ideas are exclusively rooted in the past. He also maintained that, although class strives, had marked all history, the competitors in the struggle had changed in the course of time. Although there was obviously a similarity between the travelers of the middle ages who fought against guild masters and today’s industrial workers who take on capitalists, the contestants were merely the same characters placed in diff erent situations. (Blau, 1964, p. 23)Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For Marx, the analysis of social class, class organizations and modifications are crucial to understanding capitalism and other social structures or means of production. In his theory, work and labor, and ownership of property with the means of production were the only ways that could be used to explain and define classes. Today’s capitalism according to Marx exhibits these economic factors than in any other period in history. While the previous societies contained alliances that could have been considered classes, these were mere elites who were not wholly based on economic factors. (Bottomore, 1983, p. 96) According to Marx, capitalism has two major groupings namely the bourgeoisie and proletariat. It is actually important to understand that Marx viewed the structure of society vis-Ã  -vis its maj or classes, and the resistance between them as the force of alteration in this structure. Indeed, Marx theory was not based on balance or consensus. Conflict was forever present within the societal structure and the existing classes were not meant to be purposeful elements maintaining the structure. According to Marx, this structure was like a major ingredient in the struggle of classes. Indeed, Marx only sought to explain his conflict view based on his observation of the 19th century society. (Marx, 1971, p. 65) Marx defined class as simply the possession of property. In his explanation, he claimed that such an ownership gives a person the power to bar other people from the property and to utilize it for personal intentions. By looking at the bourgeoisie, landowners and proletariats, one realizes that their main asset was property and not revenue or status. Indeed, these are determined by supply and expenditure, which itself definitely replicates the production and power associatio ns of classes. According to Marx, this makes the issue of class a hypothetical and recognized relationship among individuals. In a bid to fit in to one of the three classes, there arises an informal class membership force otherwise known as class interest. Due to the identical class conditions, individuals in the different classes tend to act in the same manner. This leads them to unconsciously form a kind of reciprocal reliance, a society, and shared interest interconnected with common revenue of yield or of wages. Because of this common interest, what follows is a formation of an interest class meant to protect their property. The formation of the interest classes often leads one group in to a struggle with the opposite group. (Marx, 1971, p. 68)Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social Conflict in the Work of Marx and Weber specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Initially, the interests associated with land possessio n and rental fee are dissimilar to those of the bourgeois property. However, as the society matures, there is usually a merger between capital and land ownership, which in turn forces a coalition between landowners and bourgeoisie. At the end, the association of production, the natural struggle between proletariat and bourgeoisie ends up being the determinant of all the events that follow. According to Marx, this constant struggle is necessary for any society that is maturing since its absence would ground a society to a halt. At the beginning of class conflict, the struggle between the various classes is usually carried out at individual production units. As capitalism matures, the rising inequality between the living conditions of the bourgeoisie and the proletariat extends the strife to coalitions across industrial units. With the passage of time, there is a manifestation of class conflict within the societal level. According to Marx, this new level leads to a rise in class-consc iousness, which ultimately leads to the clamor for political power. This therefore transforms the existing classes in to political power, which is the other form of class. (Marx, 1971, p. 70) According to Marx, the spread of political power is determined by the power of production. Production grants political power, which the bourgeois class uses to legalize and safeguard their property and resultant group affairs. Class relations are therefore political and in a mature society, the government is involved with the bourgeoisie affairs. This fact leads to a state of restlessness in the remaining classes something that widens the rift between them even further. Additionally, the state of the already exploited worker deteriorates further and in most cases, this leads to the collapse of the entire social structure. Ultimately, this transforms the class struggle in to a blue-collar revolution. In effect, this wipes away the existing classes and gives rise to a classless society. With the collapse of classes, the political power needed to protect the bourgeoisie against the laborers becomes obsolete leading to the collapse of political power and the state at large. (Cattell, 1957, p. 5) Marx’s emphasis on class conflict as representing the dynamics of social change, his consciousness that change was not accidental but the result of a conflict of interests, and his observation of social relations based on political power were new findings in the society. However, the passage of time and history has made most of his suppositions and prophecies obsolete. Today, capitalist possession and the control of production have been divided. Instead of workers becoming homogenous as Marx predicted, they are now divided in to various specialization groups. On the other hand, the strengthening of the middle class and communal mobility has further weakened the class solidity thus discrediting Marx theory in a large manner.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Instead of there being a big disparity between the rich and the poor, there has been a social intensity and an increasing highlight on social fairness. Finally, the growth of worker-oriented laws has weakened the bourgeoisie power that Marx predicted would characterize the modern society. Most importantly, the demonstration of conflict between laborers and capitalist has been institutionalized through combined negotiation legislation and the validation of strikes. Despite the exhibit of chronological trends discrediting these theories, Marx’s sociological outlines have much value. Of importance, his highlighting on conflict, classes, and their association to political influence, and on communal alteration was a dominant perspective that the modern society should not abandon. Indeed the spirit, if not the essence of his hypothesis merits further development to guide the modern society. (Giddens, 1983, p. 105) Max Weber Marx saw the division of classes as the mainly important f oundation of class conflict. Weber’s scrutiny of class is similar to Marx’s, but he discusses class in the framework of social stratification in a more general manner. Weber claims that class and social status are different dimensions of the social structure and both are noteworthy contributors of social difference. In fact, the way Weber treats class and status is an indication of the manner in which the substance basis of society is related to its perception. Social conflict can therefore be a result of the substance or the ideological basis. Unlike Marx, Weber did not dwell on explaining how class conflict occurs but he highlighted the role of power, domination and societal action in the matter. Weber defines power as the aptitude of an actor to recognize his will in a social action, even against the will of team players. He relates this to the ability to sway resources in a fastidious sphere of influence. Therefore, economic power is the ability to manage substance resources in order to guide production, dominate accretion and dictate expenditure. Societal power as outlined by Weber includes monetary power, societal power, lawful or political power among other centers of influence. Although controlling these spheres of resources usually go together, they characterize diverse mechanisms of power and are therefore theoretically distinct. (Giddens, 1983, p. 108) On the other hand, Weber described domination as the implementation of power. Therefore, possessing power in any sphere of life resulted in to automatic dominance. In what he called charismatic domination, Weber claimed that some individuals might use inspiration, coercion, communication or even leadership to direct and coordinate social action. This charisma according to Weber usually emerges during times of social crisis. Because this leadership tends to be personalized, it is short-lived and does not extend beyond the rule of its founder. In exercising this power, the leader often fin ds himself in a form of conflict with the subjects. In traditional authority, there is absolute loyalty to the leadership. In most cases, the lines of this authority are almost non-existent and there is no clear differentiation between private and public life. (Shortell, n.d) In the matter of communal action, Weber claims that it is oriented based on a common conviction of association. In other words, the actors believe that by some means they belong together in a certain way. The actions of these actors come from and are co-coordinated by this feeling. This is in contrast to societal action, which is somehow oriented to a coherent modification of welfare. The motivation is therefore not gotten by a sense of communal rationale, but relatively, identification of common good. On the issue of class, Weber identified three distinct classes, which included a specific fundamental section of actors, which rests entirely on monetary interests and is embodied under an environment of labor an d product markets. According to Weber, the possession of property defines the major class difference. Property owners have explicit advantages and in some cases even a monopoly in the marketing of commodities. The same property owners have a limited access to the foundations of wealth creation, by virtue of possession and management of the markets. Unlike Marx, Weber did not believe that class interests necessarily led to consistency is social action. Additionally, Weber did not concur with Marx that proletarian revolutionary action would arise because of structural inconsistency. In certain situations, Weber believed that there was a possibility of societal action developing from a common class situation. This meant that the extent of the contrasts between the property owners and the property less laborers must first be translucent to the laborers in order for communal action around the issue of class to crop up. (Shortell, n.d) Conclusion Both Marx and Weber have addressed the sta tus of social conflict albeit in different words. Weber’s view on the status of class conflict was not much different from the one outlined by Marx although both views are stated differently. On his part, Marx discussed the repercussions of class in terms of the substance conditions of survival. He also classified property possession in a definitive manner and in light of capitalist class relations. Additionally, Marx did not think that the variations in the kind of labor were important though he accepted that specialization had greater value than unskillful labor. On his part, Weber believed that the disparities in wages resulted in considerable substantial conditions thus dissimilar models of social action. Weber’s theory also suggests that rivalry among those without property can be based on lucid reasons, and not false awareness as Marx suggested. Reference List Blau, P. (1964) Exchange and Power in Social Life. New York: Wiley. p. 23-46. Bottomore, T. (1983) A Dic tionary of Marxist Thought. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. p. 96-103. Cattell, R. (1957) Personality and Motivation. New York: World Book. p. 5-16. Giddens, A. (1983) Capitalism and Modern Social Theory: An Analysis of the Writings of Marx, Durkheim and Max Weber, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 101-109. Marx, K. (1971) Preface to a Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy. Tr. S. W. Ryanzanskaya, edited by M. Dobb. London: Lawrence Whishart. p. 65-81. Shortell, T. (n.d). Weber’s Theory of Social Class. [Online] Brooklyn College. Available at: http://www.brooklynsoc.org/courses/43.1/weber.html . This essay on Social Conflict in the Work of Marx and Weber was written and submitted by user Daisy Doyle to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Pipeline Inspection at Petronet, South Africa The WritePass Journal

Pipeline Inspection at Petronet, South Africa Introduction Pipeline Inspection at Petronet, South Africa Introduction1. Background2. Description3. Possibilities Of Failure3.1. Weld Defects3.2. Incomplete Fusion3.3. Internal Corrosion3.4. External Corrosion3.5. Mechanical Damage3.6. Fatigue Crack           3.7.   Material Defects3.8. Weld Cracks3.9. Hydrogen Blistering4. Inspection5. Results6. Conclusions7. Recommendation7.1. Short Term Solution7.2. Long Term Solution7.3. Prevention of Lack of Fusion  ReferencesRelated Introduction Petronet, a local company that transports natural gas through underground pipelines across South Africa, had approached MA2K Testing Labs to conduct an investigation on a leakage on the pipeline, which was found during a random leak inspection. The Pipeline operates from Johannesburg to Potchefstroom. Upon inspection a joint was singled out as being a major source of leakage. The affected area was joined using a butt weld and reinforced with a clamp. This section was dissected and inspection revealed that the leakage was due to incomplete fusion in the weld which initiated the formation of hook cracks and cavities in the parent material directly adjacent to the weld. External stresses from the environment may have accelerated the growth of the cavities and cracks yet the clamp increased the strength of the joint aiding in the prevention of any accelerated growths of the defects. As a short term solution it is advised to replace the damaged section with a new pipe. It must be correctly welded of the same material and as an added precaution to weld an additional sleeve over the newly joined and welded section. As a long term solution it is advised to replace the entire pipeline with a new combination of materials. 1. Background Petronet, a leading company in South Africa which transports natural gas through underground pipelines conducted a random leak inspection survey on one of their pipelines operating from Johannesburg to Potchefstroom, and it was discovered that there was a gas leak at the specific joint. The pipe carries natural gas and it is imperative that the leak should be fixed, due to the volatile nature of gas as well as the loss of resource, in turn profits. The systems comprised of numerous seamless pipes and connected using a butt weld; these joints were reinforced by clamps bolted on. MA2K Testing Labs had been approached by Petronet, to inspect the leakage and was employed to identify the true cause of failure and as well as make many suitable recommendations for the repair and prevention of malfunction of the joint. The pipeline was effective since the 20th February 1995; this put the pipeline age in the region of 15 years. Figure 2.1 (Below) was taken on site 2. Description The defective section of the pipe, including the clamp was then marked, cut out and removed from the site for further inspection and analysis. The inspection and analysis was carried out in MA2K Testing Labs in Durban. Two grade A 106 GR.B SCH40 seamless pipes with outside diameters of 168.3mm and wall thickness of 9mm were butt welded end to end. A butt weld consists of the two pipes heated to a proper fusion temperature then joined by means of force. The joint was further secured by a clamp. The operating internal gas pressure was 2620 kPa (380 psi). Chemical composition of the pipe: Element C Si Mn P S Cr Mo Cu Ni V % ≠¤ 0.30 ≠¤ 0.10 0.291.06 ≠¤0.035 ≠¤0.035 ≠¤0.40 ≠¤0.15 ≠¤0.40 ≠¤0.40 ≠¤0.08 3. Possibilities Of Failure 3.1. Weld Defects Penetration is poor at the start of welding Ensure the grades of pipes are constant to optimize bonding strength Poor quality welds caused by  Inaccurate timing Incorrect temperature Incorrect pressure applied Failure due to fatigue (welding lowers fatigue strength)   Fusion did not occur between weld metal and fusion faces. Incomplete penetration Weld metal does not extend through the joint thickness Exposed to water and contaminants in the gas, such as O2, H2S, CO2, or chlorides. A particular gas composition may cause corrosion under some operating conditions Oxygen content (oxidizing salts) Passing through soils of different mineral content Contact of different metals, particularly at valves (galvanic corrosion) Normally consists of gouges and dents. Generally created by excavation or handling equipment during construction. Results from cyclic stresses that are below the ultimate tensile stress, or even the yield stress of the material. 3.2. Incomplete Fusion 3.3. Internal Corrosion 3.4. External Corrosion 3.5. Mechanical Damage 3.6. Fatigue Crack            3.7.   Material Defects Material defects are unwanted contaminants at the melting of steel, the steel forming or the heat treating. Furthermore faults can occur by improper storage or processing. Material defects can appear in different forms. Example of various defects mentioned below :                              Ã‚  Non-metallic inclusions                               bad microstructure                               surface corrosion                               mechanical damage                               surface defect 3.8. Weld Cracks Refers to fracture of weld caused as a result of poor parts fit-up, rapid cooling, and localized stresses exceed the ultimate strength of the metal etc. Examples of weld cracks :                                 Arc   Cracks                               Longitudinal Crack                               Transverse Crack                               Crater Crack                               Throat Crack                               Toe Crack                               Root Crack                               Hot Crack                              Cold Crack                              Hook Crack 3.9. Hydrogen Blistering A type of hydrogen-induced failure produced when hydrogen atoms enter low-strength steels that have macroscopic defects, such as laminations 4. Inspection The clamp was removed for further inspection of the weld join. The removal of the clamp was done under supervision by National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA). The pipe surface was required to be cleaned. An acetone solution was used. Liquid Penetrant examination was performed on the weld area of the pipe. Surface discontinuities were visible on the bottom of the pipe. All examinations and analysis was carried out by MA2K Testing Labs. Through inspection it was deduced that a Butt weld was used to join the pipe line and macrostructure images revealed that there were defects on the welded area. Namely weld cracks, improper penetration and incomplete fusion.   Cavities were discovered near/adjacent to the welded section of the pipe material. Surface discontinuities were made visible by the Liquid Penetrant examination. These results further justify the suspicion that there was an improper weld process conducted on the joins of the pipeline and thus the cause of the gas leak. Cavities are visible in the pipe walls. This may be caused by vacancies in the material join in the weld. The extracted sample was investigated by method of etching. A Nital solution was used to etch the pipe material. Nital is a solution of alcohol and nitric acid commonly used for routine etching of metals. It is especially suitable for revealing the microstructure of carbon steels. The alcohol can be methanol, ethanol or methylated spirits. By viewing the etched sample under a Scanning Electron Microscope it was revealed that there was an overlap of material and as a result, it was discovered that there is an irregularity or there is a non-uniform overlap or join of material. This could cause a weakness in the join due to variants in material or state of the material. The non-uniform joint of material gives weak point on the structure of the pipeline and thus resulted in a leak. Arrows on figure 5.3 clearly indicate all the weld areas, the heat affected zones and the pipe parent material. 5. Results Before the pipe was sectioned for detailed examination, a radiographic examination was performed on the premises of MA2K Testing Labs. The following image was revealed on the radiographic film. The radiograph picture shows the microstructure of the material and identifies the weld overlap with the parent material. There are clear indications of variant material or states which cause weakness in the join when added stress is applied. There are cut out root cavities visible in the radiograph which could be the cause of leakage in the pipeline. Figure 6.2: Radiograph Of Material In figure 6.3 below: The longitudinal cross section of the pipe showed the weld structure inside the pipeline. This revealed defects in the weld structure and cavities in the wall of the pipeline and a clear indication of the crack and fracture lines that could cause a leak in the pipeline. These defects occurred in the joining of the pipe and together with possible external stresses that act on it due to the environment, no corrosion had occurred and pipe was designed to withstand pressure of the gas within the pipe. Longitudinal samples were taken from the extracted piece. Cuts were made across the weld line, to define the differences in the material used in the weld and the parent material. The two cross sections through the wall thickness of the pipe was polished and etched with Nital. The one macroscopic image (Figure 6.4) revealed a clear leakage path through the wall thickness of the pipe. This shows that there was a weakness in the join between the weld material and the parent material. Further fracture and strain caused the weld to split at the join between the weld material and the parent material. Figure 6.5 shows that there was a lack of side wall fusion in the pipe and that there was another weld bead on the left, this had been made to try to fill the vacancies produced from the lack of fusion. 6. Conclusions After thorough investigation of the defective area of the pipe it was found that the leakage was due to improper weld process and lack of fusion, lack of fusion causes cavities. Cavities form cracks over a period of time. Due to this hook cracks were formed and leakage had occurred. Therefore, the components used contain no post installation defects as there was no internal or external corrosion to the material. The design of the material is suited to the environment as it was able to withstand cyclic loading, fatigue stresses and no signs of hydrogen blistering was present on the material. Mechanical damage may have aided or accelerated the growth of the crack size. The clamp made detecting the source of the leak more difficult and may have helped in the prevention or retarded the rate in which the cracks had grown. The condition of the pipe or clamp base steel compositions or microstructures was as expected for the working life of the system.   No softening was found associated w ith the weld and pipe Heat Affected Zone. 7. Recommendation 7.1. Short Term Solution As a short term solution it is advised to replace the damaged section with a new pipe. It must be correctly welded of the same material and as an added precaution to weld an additional sleeve over the newly joined and welded section. This may suffice for the next 10 years 7.2. Long Term Solution As a long term solution it is advised to replace the entire pipeline with a new combination of materials as per Petroleum Bulk Storage Regulations, the requirement is that all new underground pipelines be as follows: v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pipes must be either constructed of a non-corrodible material such as fiberglass reinforced plastic, nylon or engineered thermo-plastic, or metal such as steel with a cathodic protection system designed to protect it for 30 years. v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pipes may be in single or double-walled construction v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Access ports must be installed to permit tightness testing; v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Installation must be in accordance with recognized engineering practices v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pipes and joints must be tightness tested before being covered and placed in. To reduce downtime and loss of profits, the new pipeline may be installed next to the existing pipeline and until completion will be ineffective. Thereafter the new pipeline will replace the old with minimal downtime. This is another advantage of laying down a new pipeline. 7.3. Prevention of Lack of Fusion v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Surface should be machined/ground smooth to avoid minute discontinuities. v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ensure welding current is sufficient. v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Weld arcs should not be longer than the pipe diameter v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The â€Å"V† angle should not exceed 7 degrees v  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The strip width should be appropriate and consistent for the diameter of the pipe   References Alibaba.com, 1999. Sourcing Products And Suppliers (Carbon Steel Piping: ASTM A106 GR.B). (Updated 01 April 2011) Available at: alibaba.com/product-gs/258930670/ASTM_A106_GR_B.html. [Accessed 24 April 2011] Jernberg, John (1919), Forging, American Technical Society (Updated 29 April 2007) Available at: http://books.google.com/books?id=-ksxAAAAMAAJpg=PA26 [Accessed 24 April 2011]

Legal Issues in the Criminal Justice Administration Research Paper

Legal Issues in the Criminal Justice Administration - Research Paper Example Eventually, they credited her good work in the sexual assault unit and considered as â€Å"one of the boys.† Officer Rowdy uses colorful language when dealing with fellow officers. One day, following a brutal child sexual assault investigation, she joined with fellow officers to the bar and got pretty drunk. The males called Rowdy a â€Å"jap† and laughing about J-date and in returned, Rowdy joked about circumcised versus uncircumcised males. She seemed not offended. Rowdy’s immediate supervisor was with them and he blatantly told her that she can be promoted as a detective provided she will do something sexual for him. Offended, she called him several derogatory names and he left her alone, but not before he called her a â€Å"disgusting Jew.† A week later, a neighbour of the bar where the officers were drinking reported to the Sheriff that her officers were an embarrassment to the town and that there was one female officer who was particularly offensive because she was using foul language and telling sexually explicit jokes with the male officers. The Sheriff called Rowdy’s attention and investigated her about the incident. The Sheriff apparently considered her for the detective division but professed having second thought as complaint was mounted. Rowdy explicated that she endured verbal abuse from her fellows and perceived that she tolerated it so that she will not get fired. She related the supervisor’s offer of a promotion and the offensive Jewish jokes she’s had to put up since starting the job. She does not want to lose her job and don’t want to alienate fellow officers as they might retaliate and shun her again. She asked if this incident happened because of her Jewish religious practic e which has become a subject of amusement for fellow officers. c. If she disciplines Officer Rowdy for her behaviour in the bar to satisfy the citizen complaint, will she have a legitimate claim against the Sheriff? If she is

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Measuring Binding Constant of Ethidium Bromide (EtBr) to DNA

Measuring Binding Constant of Ethidium Bromide (EtBr) to DNA ABSTRACT: The principle behind this lab experiment was to determine the binding constant of ethidium bromide to DNA using the known concentrations and the calculated value of X obtained from the equation. Ethidium bromide is said to have a high affinity to DNA, therefore, the expected value for the binding constant should be large. Two method were implemented in determining the binding constant of EtBr to DNA. The first method was by inputting the absorbance data using a fixed excel worksheet. The main goal was to manipulate the value in cell I24 to be as low as possible. After several trails and error, the final value of cell I24 was 0.00011316 and logK was 3.99. The second method was by simple manual calculation. The two methods yielded two very different results. 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DNA is more than just a source of sequence information, but it is also the platform where binding proteins collate. This is an important factor for the development of many clinical drugs. The structure and function of drug targets are the basis for designs of effective and specific inhibitors. Though to be considered effective, the target drugs must bind to the enzymes or receptors with great affinity and specificity. Ethidium bromide, (EtBr), is widely used in many scientific laboratories to study the binding properties of DNA. Ethidium bromide is an aromatic dye that slips in between the base pairs of DNA. This binding of ethidium bromide to DNA is a process called intercalation. During this process, the structure of the DNA is changed and the distance among the base pairs in which it directly binds to increases. Resultant in the overall expansion of the dimension of DNA. Ethidium bromide exhibits diminutive base pair partiality containing moderate binding affinity depending on its ionic strength. The intercalation specificity depends greatly on electrostatic interactions and the formation of Van der Waals interactions between base pairs. It has the capability to bind itself to the hydrophobic interior in the stacked base pairs of DNA. However, Ethidium bromide is known to be a very potent mutagen, which is a chemical agent that can cause mutation in DNA cells and other certain diseases such as cancer. It is called an intercalating agent due to its ability to inhibit cell growth, DNA replication and transcription. In this experiment, we will be measuring the binding constant of the dye, ethidium bromide, using herring testes by method of absorption spectroscopy. Herring testes DNA (htDNA) is a natural DNA used in studies of DNA binding agents that modulate DNA structure and function (Sigma-Aldrich, Inc). This method involves titrating a series of solutions varying in DNA concentrations but with a constant concentration of the intercalating agent, ethidium bromide. By implementing this order of magnitude, it is likely to obtain samples with entirely unbound DNA and DNA that is saturated with ethidium. The solutions will run through the absorbance spectrometer at a wavelength of 480 nm. The absorbance measured will be used to calculate the bound ethidium. To determine the amount of bound ethidium the following expressions below is used, given that the information of DÕ†¢ and EÕ†¢ are known; where EÕ†¢ is the total ethidium bromide concentration and DÕ†¢ is the total DNA concentration. This information will allow us to calculate the binding constant of ethidium toward DNA. The equilibrium: D + E à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ C D = DNA E = Ethidium Bromide C = Complex K = [C] / [D][E](1) Solve for K: K = x/[EÕ†¢ x][DÕ†¢ x](2) Kx2 x(K[DÕ†¢] + K[EÕ†¢] + 1) +K[DÕ†¢][EÕ†¢] = 0 (3) Determination of the amount of bound ethidium (amount of complex, C): Aobs = ÃŽÂ µb x + ÃŽÂ µf [EÕ†¢ x](4) ÃŽÂ µb (480 nm) = 2,497 M-1 cm-1 ÃŽÂ µf (480 nm) = 5,600 M-1 cm-1 EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES: MATERIALS: 2 mM DNA (bp) stock solution with BPES buffer 2  µM DNA (bp) stock solution with BPES buffer 10  µM stock solution of Ethidium Bromide Micropipettes Microcentrifuge tubes Absorbance spectrometer PROCEDURES: Determine the volume of stock DNA solution and the amount of buffer needed for each of the nineteen samples before proceeding. *Refer to data tables* In the microcentrifuge tubes, make nineteen 1 mL DNA solutions by diluting from the 2 mM, and the 2  µM DNA stock solutions with BPES buffer. Then add 10  µL of ethidium bromide to the nineteen prepared solutions. Mix well and measure the absorbance at 480 nm. Record the absorbance for each of the nineteen solutions and use the information to calculate the binding constant K. RESULTS: DATA TABLE: Absorbance at 480 nm -Log[bp] [DNA(bp)] Volume 2 mM DNA Solution (in  µL) Volume 2  µM DNA Solution (in  µL) Volume of BPES buffer (in  µL) 0.018 3.0 0.001 500.0 XXXXXX 500.0 0.023 3.3 5.01187ÃÆ'-10-4 251.0 XXXXXX 749.0 0.024 3.7 1.99526ÃÆ'-10-4 100.0 XXXXXX 900.0 0.032 4.0 0.0001 50.0 XXXXXX 950.0 0.032 4.3 5.01187ÃÆ'-10-5 25.0 XXXXXX 975.0 0.029 4.7 1.99526ÃÆ'-10-5 10.0 XXXXXX 990.0 0.032 5.0 0.00001 5.0 XXXXXX 995.0 0.031 5.3 5.01187 ÃÆ'-10-6 3.0 XXXXXX 997.0 0.030 5.7 1.99526ÃÆ'-10-6 1.0 XXXXXX 999.0 0.032 6.0 0.000001 XXXXXX 500.0 500.0 0.033 6.3 5.01187ÃÆ'-10-7 XXXXXX 251.0 749.0 0.033 6.7 2.51189ÃÆ'-10-7 XXXXXX 100.0 900.0 0.032 7.0 0.0000001 XXXXXX 50.0 950.0 0.032 7.3 5.01187ÃÆ'-10-8 XXXXXX 25.0 975.0 0.034 7.7 1.99526ÃÆ'-10-8 XXXXXX 10.0 990.0 0.035 8.0 0.00000001 XXXXXX 5.0 995.0 0.035 8.3 5.01187ÃÆ'-10-9 XXXXXX 2.5 997.5 0.033 8.7 2.51189ÃÆ'-10-9 XXXXXX 1.0 999.0 0.030 9.0 0.000000001 XXXXXX 0.5 999.5 DATA GRAPH: CALCULATIONS: Sample Calculation for K: Using sample #4 Known Information: Aobs = ÃŽÂ µb x + ÃŽÂ µf [EÕ†¢ x] Aobs = 0.032 ÃŽÂ µb (480 nm) = 2,497 M-1 cm-1 [E]initial = 10  µM = 1.0 ÃÆ'-10-5 M ÃŽÂ µf (480 nm) = 5,600 M-1 cm-1 [DNA(bp)]initial = log(bp) = -4.0 = 1.0 ÃÆ'-10-4 M Solve for X: Aobs = ÃŽÂ µb x + ÃŽÂ µf [EÕ†¢ x] 0.032 = (2497 M-1cm-1)x + (5600 M-1cm-1)[(1.0 ÃÆ'-10-5 M) x] x = 7.73943 ÃÆ'-10-6 M Plug in value of x to solve for K: K = x/[EÕ†¢ x][DÕ†¢ x] K = (7.739 ÃÆ'-10-6 M)à ·[( 1.0 ÃÆ'-10-5 M) (7.739 ÃÆ'-10-6 M)][( 1.0 ÃÆ'-10-4 M) (7.739 ÃÆ'-10-6 M)] K = (7.73943 ÃÆ'-10-6 M) à · [2.26057 ÃÆ'-10-6 M][9.22606 ÃÆ'-10-5 M] K = (7.73943 ÃÆ'-10-6 M) à · (2.0856148 ÃÆ'-10-10 M2) K = 37108.63 M-1 K = 3.71 ÃÆ'-104 M-1 FINAL EXCEL WORKSHEET: After refinement DISCUSSION: The principle behind this lab experiment was to determine the binding constant of ethidium bromide to DNA using the known concentrations and the calculated value of X obtained from the equation. Ethidium bromide is said to have a high affinity to DNA, therefore, the expected value for the binding constant should be large. However, two methods were used to obtain the value K (binding constant). The first method was by using excel worksheet and inputting our data. The main goal was to manipulate the value in cell I24 to be as low as possible. After several trails and error, the final value of cell I24 was 0.00011316 and logK was 3.99, if you take the antilog of that value K would equal to approx. 9772.37, which is low in comparison to method two which was done by manual calculation. By manual calculation the obtained value for K was 37,108.63 M-1 which indicates that the final EB complex of DNA was larger than that of unbound DNA and unbound EB. The high value of the binding constant ( K), demonstrates that there is a high affinity of ethidium bromide to DNA. This correlates to the expected values of EtBr, which are reported to be in between 104 M to 106 M. Using a buffer that does not contain added NaCl, such as BPE, will have different results than that of a buffer with NaCl, such as BPES. The BPE buffer will yield a lower binding constant than that measured in BPES buffer. It is well known that the interaction within the process of intercalation is driven by electrostatic factors and à Ã¢â€š ¬-stacking with the bases (lab manual). The electrostatic binding of ethidium bromide to DNA has a preference to binding to the phosphate backbone the DNA strand. The DNA-ligand binding is salt-dependent due to the counter-ion release thats carried out during binding. This is indicative that the salt component in the buffer demonstrates a relatively greater stability in DNA due to its preference to the binding site within the GC-rich DNA region. With that said, it is apparent that an outlying positive charge is essential for intercalation. The positive charge on the intercalation diminishes as the aromatic system increases. Like ethidium bromide, Actinomycin D is another known intercalator with a high affinity to DNA. Though the two differ by means of binding sites. Actinomycin D intercalates at GC sites, which indicates that the two intercalators would not compete with one another at the exact binding sites. Therefore, by adding Actinomycin to a solution of herring testes DNA Ethidium bromide, resulting in two different results. An example of the plot is shown below: The plot is simply an example of what it might look like. There are a lot of variables that must be considered in choosing the proper intercalator. Factors to consider are concentrations of solutions and DNA, buffers, whether its a low salt concentration or high salt concentration buffer. The difference in buffers could possibly yield two very different results. Another factor to consider is the magnitude of the absorbance. All these factors combined could hinder the final outcome, so it is hard to conclude exactly how the actinomycin D would react in combination with ethidium bromide to DNA within this experiment. REFERENCES: Jeremy M. Berg, J. L. (2015). Biochemistry 8th ed. Kate Ahr Parker. Eva M. Talavera, Pablo Guerrero, Francisco Ocana, and Jose M. Alvarez-Pez, Photophysical and Direct Determination of Binding Constants of Ethidium Bromide Complexed to E. coli DNA, Appl. Spectrosc. 56, 362-369 (2002) Fuller, W., and M. J. Waring. 1964. A Molecular model for the interaction of ethidium bromide with deoxyribonucleic acid. Ber. Bunsen Ges. Phys. Chem. 68:805-808. Qiao C, Bi S, Sun Y, Song D, Zhang H, Zhou W (2008) Study of interactions of anthraquinones with DNA using ethidium bromide as a fluorescence probe. Spectrochim Acta A 70: 136-143 Graves, D. E., C. L. Watkins, and L. W. Yielding. 1981. Ethidium bromide and its photoreactive analogues: spectroscopic analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid binding properties. Biochemistry. 20:1887-1892. [PubMed] Suh D, Chaires J B (1995) Criteria for the mode of binding of DNA binding agents. Bioorg Mediclin Chem 3(6): 723-728

The Life and Work of Edgar Allan Poe Essay -- essays research papers

Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to parents who were traveling actors. His father David Poe Jr. died probably in 1810. Elizabeth Hopkins Poe died in 1811, leaving three children. Edgar was taken into the home of a merchant from Richmond named John Allan. The remaining children were cared for by others. Poe's brother William died young and sister Rosalie later became insane. At the age of five Poe could recite passages of English poetry. Later one of his teachers in Richmond said: "While the other boys wrote mere mechanical verses, Poe wrote genuine poetry; the boy was a born poet." Poe was brought up partly in England (1815-20), where he attended Manor School at Stoke Newington. Later it became the setting for his story 'William Wilson'. Since Poe was never legally adopted, he took Allan's name for his middle name. Poe attended the University of Virginia (1826-27), but was expelled for not paying his gambling debts. His expulsion led to a quarrel with All an, who refused to pay the debts. Allan later disowned him. In 1826 Poe became engaged to Elmira Royster, but her parents broke off the engagement. During his stay at the university, Poe wrote some stories, but not much is known of his beginning works. In 1827 Poe joined the U.S. Army as a common soldier under an assumed name, Edgar A. Perry. He was sent to Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, which provided settings for his tales 'The Gold Bug' (1843) and 'The Balloon Hoax' (1844). Tamerlane and O... The Life and Work of Edgar Allan Poe Essay -- essays research papers Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to parents who were traveling actors. His father David Poe Jr. died probably in 1810. Elizabeth Hopkins Poe died in 1811, leaving three children. Edgar was taken into the home of a merchant from Richmond named John Allan. The remaining children were cared for by others. Poe's brother William died young and sister Rosalie later became insane. At the age of five Poe could recite passages of English poetry. Later one of his teachers in Richmond said: "While the other boys wrote mere mechanical verses, Poe wrote genuine poetry; the boy was a born poet." Poe was brought up partly in England (1815-20), where he attended Manor School at Stoke Newington. Later it became the setting for his story 'William Wilson'. Since Poe was never legally adopted, he took Allan's name for his middle name. Poe attended the University of Virginia (1826-27), but was expelled for not paying his gambling debts. His expulsion led to a quarrel with All an, who refused to pay the debts. Allan later disowned him. In 1826 Poe became engaged to Elmira Royster, but her parents broke off the engagement. During his stay at the university, Poe wrote some stories, but not much is known of his beginning works. In 1827 Poe joined the U.S. Army as a common soldier under an assumed name, Edgar A. Perry. He was sent to Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, which provided settings for his tales 'The Gold Bug' (1843) and 'The Balloon Hoax' (1844). Tamerlane and O...