Difference between revisions of "Team:WashU StLouis/Background"

Ultraviolet light makes up the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths just shorter than those visible to the human eye, ranging from approximately 100 nm to 400 nm. Within this portion of the spectrum, UV light can be divided into three subcategories: UV-A (315-400 nm), UV-B (280-315 nm), and UV-C (100-280 nm) (1).

Each type of UV light has different effects on living organisms and are present in different levels at Earth’s surface. UV-A is the most abundant, comprising about 6.3% of the total light that passes through the ozone layer and reaches the surface, while UV-B makes up approximately 1.5% and UV-C cannot pass through the ozone layer at all. (4)

Because UV-A is the most prevalent, it has the fewest harmful effects on Earth’s life forms. In fact, it plays an important role in Vitamin D formation in human skin. UV-A is the type of radiation that is responsible for sunburns and cataracts. (7)

UV-C is unable to get through the ozone layer and is therefore not found naturally on Earth’s surface. It is extremely damaging to DNA and is used commercially as a tool to sterilize scientific instruments.

Our project focuses on the middle part of the ultraviolet spectrum, UV-B. While only a small portion of the spectrum is composed of UV-B light, it can still pose a significant threat to many organisms. When UV-B strikes a cell, it is absorbed by the cell’s DNA. this absorption excites the atoms in the nucleic acid thymine and promotes for formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), causing a disruption in the double-helix structure of the genetic material. (6)

While irradiation by UV-B light leads to harmful effects in a wide variety of species, including the causation of skin cancer in humans, we will be focusing primarily on its effects in photosynthetic organisms.

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-<p>Maddie, you can start here</p>
+<p style="font-size: 1.25vw">UV Radiation</p>
+<p>Ultraviolet light makes up the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths just shorter than those visible to the human eye, ranging from approximately 100 nm to 400 nm. Within this portion of the spectrum, UV light can be divided into three subcategories: UV-A (315-400 nm), UV-B (280-315 nm), and UV-C (100-280 nm) (1).</p>
+<p>Each type of UV light has different effects on living organisms and are present in different levels at Earth’s surface. UV-A is the most abundant, comprising about 6.3% of the total light that passes through the ozone layer and reaches the surface, while UV-B makes up approximately 1.5% and UV-C cannot pass through the ozone layer at all. (4)</p>
+<p>Because UV-A is the most prevalent, it has the fewest harmful effects on Earth’s life forms. In fact, it plays an important role in Vitamin D formation in human skin. UV-A is the type of radiation that is responsible for sunburns and cataracts. (7)</p>
+<p>UV-C is unable to get through the ozone layer and is therefore not found naturally on Earth’s surface. It is extremely damaging to DNA and is used commercially as a tool to sterilize scientific instruments.</p>
+<p>Our project focuses on the middle part of the ultraviolet spectrum, UV-B. While only a small portion of the spectrum is composed of UV-B light, it can still pose a significant threat to many organisms. When UV-B strikes a cell, it is absorbed by the cell’s DNA. this absorption excites the atoms in the nucleic acid thymine and promotes for formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), causing a disruption in the double-helix structure of the genetic material. (6)</p>
+<p>While irradiation by UV-B light leads to harmful effects in a wide variety of species, including the causation of skin cancer in humans, we will be focusing primarily on its effects in photosynthetic organisms.</p>
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