Residence times of isotopes in different animal tissues are important for relati

Question

Residence times of isotopes in different animal tissues are important for relating isotopic patterns to specific time periods. In diet switch studies to estimate residence times of different tissues, one equation used is the following: delta^13 C(t) = delta^13 C (t_infinity) + a times exp(-kt), where exp = e, sometimes called Euler's number, and a = delta^13 C (t0) - delta^13 C (t_infinity), and k is the fractional turnover during a specific period. How is this analogous to radioactive decay? In a study of tissue turnover and^13 C fractionation in deer mice, mice are initially fed a C_3 diet so that their muscle protein and muscle lipid have a delta^13 C of-30%. After changing to a C_4, maize-based diet (delta^13 C is 14% higher than the C_3 diet), you record the following patterns of tissue isotopes in deer mice: What is the turnover per day of muscle protein and muscle lipid? How many days until half of the total muscle tissue has turned over? What is unrealistic about the patterns of isotopes you recorded? How might N isotopes help you calculate turnover?

Explanation / Answer

The passage of isotopes can be tracked when they move through different tissues of the body. This procedure is known as isotopic labelling.

Now, a strong isotope has greater retention time. This has been studied in Gas chromatography. Strong isotopes’ retention time in the GC column is higher than the weak isotope.

So, is stated in the equation; the equation is showing isotope to be directly proportional to time.

This is analogous and comparable with radioactive decay.

A stronger isotope will decay less; (because it retains for longer time in the column). So, larger the retention time, stronger is the isotope, lesser will be radioactive decay.

**Please post rest of the questions separately.

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