Molecular biology is a branch of science that few people know about and even fewer understand. It's similar to microbiology or cellular biology, but molecular biology specifically studies the macromolecules that (literally) shape our lives by looking at what they do and how they do it. And while studying things that you can’t even see might sound tedious at first, there's loads of interesting information to learn about the microscopic world around us. Here are 3 fun facts about molecular biology that you’ll actually want to tell your friends about: 

1. There’s a Molecule Named After Count Dracula

Count Dracula, the main character of Bram Stoker’s classic novel of the same name also happens to be the inspiration behind the naming of the molecule “Draculin.” Draculin, a glycoprotein composed of 411 amino acids, was discovered in 1998 in the saliva of vampire bats. Vampire bats use the draculin molecule in their saliva as an anti-clotting agent to prevent the bite wounds on their victims from healing. Unfortunately for the bite victim, draculin allows the blood to flow more freely, so the vampire bat can continue to drink before the blood starts to clot. Although this bite doesn’t usually kill the animal, the bats can introduce diseases such as rabies or infection, which can lead to death. Ouch. Scientists found the effects of draculin so interesting that in the early 2010s, it was studied as a preventative treatment for stroke-causing blood clots in humans. Long story short—the drug never made it past clinical trials. It seems that draculin is best left to the bats.

2. The Electron Microscope Was Invented Before Duct Tape

The Electron Microscope is an extremely powerful microscope that uses a beam of electrons to magnify objects. Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll from the University of Berlin successfully built the first electron microscope in 1931, almost 12 years before duct tape was even an idea! When the electron microscope was created by Ruska and Knoll, it had a resolution of about 10 nanometers. To put that in perspective, the virus that causes the common cold is only 30 nanometers wide. Modern electron microscopes can now reach resolutions as precise as 0.039 nanometers. Not only is that small enough to see into cells, but it can show us the atomic structure of their organelles. Duct tape may have made a big splash when it was invented back in 1943, but there’s no denying that the electron microscope was a scientific ingenuity beyond its time. If it weren’t for the electron microscope, we probably wouldn’t know that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.

3.We Share 40% of Our Genes with Bananas

DNA is a molecule found in the nucleus of our cells (thank you, electron microscope!). It serves as the instruction manual for our body and tells new cells how to grow, rebuild, and heal. DNA is also responsible for creating genes that determine what we look like and how our bodies work. So then, how could 40% of those genes be the same as a banana? The DNA molecule of one of our cells, if laid flat, would be around 5 feet long. Yet, only 1% of that sequence is genetic code. Of that 1% of the DNA strand that contains genetic information, 40% of those genes are identical between humans and bananas. But don't think too hard about the similarities between yourself and a banana—we actually share DNA with an assortment of other living organisms simply because we're all alive. All living organisms, even bananas, require a set of genes in their DNA responsible for things like cell reproduction, basic cell function, and maintenance. Essentially the “housekeeping” genes.

Learn More About Molecular Biology This Summer

Did you find these facts fascinating? There’s so much more science fun to get involved in this summer at the annual Tampa Bay Summer Science Camp. Whether you’re a pro at astronomy or an amateur geologist, there’s heaps more to learn and love about science this summer. Learn more about how you can sign up for Summer 2023 camps at funscience.com.