Affinity: Difference between revisions
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Affinity is defined as "The degree to which a substance tends to combine with another" <ref>http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/affinity</ref>. Different [[molecules|molecules]] can have varying affinities (binding strength) depending on a hole host of factors. For example the affinity of large primer attaching to a specific section of [[DNA|DNA]] is completely dependant on the number of [[hydrogen bonds|hydrogen bonds]] between [[complimentary base pairs|complimentary base pairs]], the more hydrogen bonds there are the greater the attraction and so the greater the affinity. Affinity also plays a key role in [[Enzyme|enzyme]] controlled reactions, as for a enzyme to work efficiently you need strong binding between the enzyme and substrate, and so you would use a enzyme with a high affinity for the substrate you are attempting to catalyze. | |||
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Revision as of 09:10, 22 October 2014
Affinity is defined as "The degree to which a substance tends to combine with another" [1]. Different molecules can have varying affinities (binding strength) depending on a hole host of factors. For example the affinity of large primer attaching to a specific section of DNA is completely dependant on the number of hydrogen bonds between complimentary base pairs, the more hydrogen bonds there are the greater the attraction and so the greater the affinity. Affinity also plays a key role in enzyme controlled reactions, as for a enzyme to work efficiently you need strong binding between the enzyme and substrate, and so you would use a enzyme with a high affinity for the substrate you are attempting to catalyze.