One Justice in To Kill A Mockingbird Research Paper Example

One Justice in To Kill A Mockingbird Research Paper Example One Justice in To Kill A Mockingbird Paper One Justice in To Kill A Mockingbird Paper Essay Topic: Literature To Kill a Mockingbird Everyone has their own ideas of what is just and moral. Everyones idea of unfairness is established as a child, denied candy or a late curfew. As our perceptions grow more sophisticated, one question cannot be avioded: What is justice? In Harper Lees To Kill A Mockingbird, many themes of justice are explored. Each child in the story comes to a different conclusion concerning the importance of justice. Their opinions are crafted in the waring sides of fairness and prejudice that divide the town of Maycomb, Alabama. The first differing philopsy in Maycomb is that of fairness and law over prejudice and money. This view of justice is held by many influential powers, including characters that are central to the development of Jem, Dill, and Scout. These characters include Atticus Finch, Miss Maudie, Heck Tate, Dolphus Raymond and even to an extent Mr Underwood, who despises negroes (Lee, 156) but chooses to uphold the law before his own personal prejudices. Most important to the three children is Atticus Finch, who as a father has raised Jem and Scout on his own principle of justice, that in our courts all men are created equal (Lee, 156). Like Atticus, this side of the conflict believe firmly in the integrity of [the] courts (Lee, 205) to fulfill societys obligations of justice. Until Jem, Dill and Scout are exposed to the other opinionated side of this silent battle, all three find no gaps in their personal perceptions of justice. This conflicting barrage of opinions that they encounter is described by Atticus as Maycombs disease (Lee, 81). In the case of Tom Robinson some people (Ms Dubose, Miss Gates, Stephanie Crawford, Bob Ewell, and others) have been spreading high talk that [Atticus] shouldnt do much about defending [Tom] (Lee, 75). These people believe that it is appropriate for justice to be warped by social pressure and a jury that is prejudice, and in the words of Atticus, they couldnt be fair if they tried (Lee, 220). The three main protagonists in the story, Jem, Dill and Scout are all children. All three face these two conflicting models and each connects to a certain shade of gray within the side of law and order. All three children eventually reach the conclusion that the people of Maycomb are not the best folks in the world (Lee, 215) as they had once believed. To the contrary, their friends and neighbors harbor deep imperfections which they discover like somethin asleep wrapped up in a warm place (Lee, 215). To clearly illustrate each childs own discoveries and prospects on the idea of justice, each must be compared to another adult character in the novel. The greatest influence on young Jem Finch is Atticus, a man whose faith in the court system is paramount to his beliefs. Jem aspires to be a lawyer, but is not resigned to the idea that biased juries are acceptable. Instead, he makes a promise to do something about heathen juries [] soon as [he gets] grown (Lee, 216). Like Atticus, Jem believes that ultimate justice is obtainable in the states judicial system. Dill Harris shares a very different view of justice then his two best friends. His aptitude can be compared to Dolphus Raymond. Both characters have a cynical lack of faith when it comes to the people of Maycomb, represented by Dills statement, there aint one thing in this world I can do about folks except laugh (Lee, 216), and Raymonds farce of being in the clutches of whisky (Lee, 200). Unlike Jem, Dill is unmotivated to work towards a world free of prejudice and is resigned to the idea. Out of all three of the children in the story, Scouts perception of justice is most difficult to divulge. While the reader is only able to hear Jem and Dills point of view when they decide to speak, all of Scouts contemplations are offered. Scouts initial view of justice is simplistic, her barbaric idea of revenge through fights is unchallenged. When Scout agrees with Heck Tate at the end of the novel and claims that forcing Arthur Radley to testify would be like sort of like shootin a mocking bird (Lee, 276), she makes an important designation between herself and her father. Heck Tate takes into account the circumstances of the events and fundamentally lies to protect Arthur. Scout sees this as acceptable, while Atticus is uneasy with the idea, claiming nobodys hushing this up. I dont live that way (Lee, 273). Scouts ability as a child to take into account circumstance in her perception of justice makes her reasoning much more sophisticated then that of the court system. In conclusion, its clear that all three children in To Kill A Mockingbird harbor their own individual perceptions of what justice really is, shaped by the many influential adults in their lives. Among many themes, To Kill A Mockingbird offers a microcosm of the ideals of justice in a multi-faceted society that influences all our perceptions, especially in childhood.

Glycoprotein Definition and Function

Glycoprotein Definition and Function A glycoprotein is a type of protein molecule that has had a carbohydrate attached to it. The process either occurs during protein translation or as a posttranslational modification in a process called glycosylation. The carbohydrate is an oligosaccharide chain (glycan) that is covalently bonded to the polypeptide side chains of the protein. Because of the -OH groups of sugars, glycoproteins are more hydrophilic than simple proteins. This means glycoproteins are more attracted to water than ordinary proteins. The hydrophilic nature of the molecule also leads to the characteristic folding of the proteins tertiary structure. The carbohydrate is a short molecule, often branched, and may consist of: simple sugars (e.g., glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose)amino sugars (sugars that have an amino group, such as N-acetylglucosamine or N-acetylgalactosamine)acidic sugars (sugars that have a carboxyl group, such as sialic acid or N-acetylneuraminic acid) O-Linked and N-Linked Glycoproteins Glycoproteins are categorized according to the attachment site of the carbohydrate to an amino acid in the protein. O-linked glycoproteins are ones in which the carbohydrate bonds to the oxygen atom (O) of the hydroxyl group (-OH) of the R group of either the amino acid threonine or serine. O-linked carbohydrates may also bond to hydroxylysine or hydroxyproline. The process is termed O-glycosylation. O-linked glycoproteins are bound to sugar within the Golgi complex.N-linked glycoproteins have a carbohydrate bonded to the nitrogen (N) of the  amino group (-NH2) of the R group of the amino acid asparagine. The R group is usually the amide side chain of asparagine. The bonding process is called N-glycosylation. N-linked glycoproteins gain their sugar from the endoplasmic reticulum membrane and then are transported to the Golgi complex for modification. While O-linked and N-linked glycoproteins are the most common forms, other connections are also possible: P-glycosylation occurs when the sugar attaches to the phosphorus of phosphoserine.C-glycosylation is when the sugar attaches to the carbon atom of amino acid. An example is when the sugar mannose bonds to the carbon in tryptophan.Glypiation is when a  glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI) glycolipid attaches to the carbon terminus of a polypeptide. Glycoprotein Examples and Functions Glycoproteins function in the structure, reproduction, immune system, hormones, and protection of cells and organisms. Glycoproteins are found on the surface of the lipid bilayer of cell membranes. Their hydrophilic nature allows them to function in the aqueous environment, where they act in cell-cell recognition and binding of other molecules. Cell surface glycoproteins are also important for cross-linking cells and proteins (e.g., collagen) to add strength and stability to a tissue. Glycoproteins in plant cells are what allows plants to stand upright against the force of gravity. Glycosylated proteins are not just critical for  intercellular communication. They also help organ systems communicate with each other. Glycoproteins are found in brain gray matter, where they work together with axons and synaptosomes. Hormones  may be glycoproteins. Examples include human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and erythropoietin (EPO). Blood clotting depends on the glycoproteins prothrombin, thrombin, and fibrinogen. Cell markers may be glycoproteins. The MN blood groups are due to two polymorphic forms of the glycoprotein glycophorin A. The two forms differ only by two amino acid residues, yet that is enough to cause problems for persons receiving an organ donated by someone with a different blood group. The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) and H antigen of the ABO blood group are distinguished by glycosylated proteins. Glycophorin A is also important because its the attachment site for Plasmodium falciparum, a human blood parasite. Glycoproteins are important for reproduction because they allow for the binding of the sperm cell to the surface of the egg. Mucins are glycoproteins found in mucus. The molecules protect sensitive epithelial surfaces, including the respiratory, urinary, digestive, and reproductive tracts. The immune response relies on glycoproteins. The carbohydrate of antibodies (which are glycoproteins) determines the specific antigen it can bind. B cells and T cells have surface glycoproteins which bind antigens, as well. Glycosylation Versus Glycation Glycoproteins get their sugar from an enzymatic process that forms a molecule that would not function otherwise. Another process, called glycation, covalently bonds sugars to proteins and lipids. Glycation is not an enzymatic process. Often, glycation reduces or negates the function of the affected molecule. Glycation naturally occurs during aging and is accelerated in diabetic patients with high glucose levels in their blood. References and Suggested Reading Berg, Tymoczko, and Stryer (2002).  Biochemistry. W.H. Freeman and Company: New York. 5th edition: pg. 306-309.Ivatt, Raymond J. (1984)  The Biology of Glycoproteins. Plenum Press: New York.