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SKIN INSTITUTES exciting latest product, the Konjac SpongeThe Konjac Sponge is made from a natural food which is called Konjac (in Japan it's known as Konnyaku). Konjac is a popular and healthy vegetable in Korea and Japan. Being unbelievably soft and gentle,the Konjac Sponge exfoliates dead cells while wiping the face and body, and leaves behind a colloid film to nourish and protect your skin. It's perfect for cleansing even the most sensitive skin! The Konjac Sponge contains no preservatives or artificial pigment. Konjac is slightly alkaline. It contains water, protein, carbohydrate, lipids, sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, copper, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, pantothenate, niacin, fatty acid, folic acid and fiber. We are offering it for $12.

As seen on Dr. OzOrganic Tamanu Oil...Nature's newest skin sensation!

Lash Growth FactorIncrease length and thickness of sparse lashes- may also be used in combination with lash extensions

We now have Burn B Gone

Molecular Tool: ELECTROPORATION Electroporation is a mechanical method used to introduce polar molecules into a host cell through the cell membrane. In this procedure, a large electric pulse temporarily disturbs the phospholipid bilayer, allowing molecules like DNA to pass into the cell (Purves et. al., 2001).

Background: Many research techniques in molecular biology require a foreign gene or protein material to be inserted into a host cell. Since the phospholipid bilayer of the plasma membrane has a hydrophobic exterior and a hydrophobic interior (Fig. 1), any polar molecules, including DNA and protein, are unable to freely pass through the membrane (Farabee, 2001).



Figure 1. Diagram of the Phospholipid Bilayer. This image shows the chemical components of the plasma membrane. The polar head groups face outward while the hydrophobic tail groups face inward and interact with one another to hold the membrane together. Polar molecules cannot pass through this membrane without external aid (Farabee, 2001)

Many methods have been developed to surpass this barrier and allow the insertion of DNA and other molecules into the cells to be studied. One such method is electroporation. The concept of electroporation capitalizes on the relatively weak nature of the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions and its ability to spontaneously reassemble after disturbance (Purves, et. al., 2001). Thus, a quick voltage shock may disrupt areas of the membrane temporarily, allowing polar molecules to pass, but then the membrane may reseal quickly and leave the cell intact.

Advantages:

Versatility: Electroporation is effective with nearly all cell and species types (Nickoloff, 1995)

Efficiency: A large majority of cells take in the target DNA or molecule

Several methods other than electroporation are used to transfer polar molecules like DNA into host cells. These other methods include microprecipitates, microinjection, liposomes, and biological vectors. (Melcher, 2000).