Biological aging system

Fig. 3B.3 Heterogeneity of wine samples in the biological aging system...

However, there are also many important biological catalytic systems. Fermentation of sugars into ethanol has been practiced since the Stone Age, and we stiU have not improved these catalysts much from the naturally occurring enzymes that exist in the yeasts that are found naturally growing in natural sugar sources. 

Fino wine, which is the best known type of biologically aged wine, is obtained by using the criaderas and solera system, which essentially involves the periodic homogenization of wines of different age. This process is complex and expensive, but produces wines of uniform quality over time. Also, it makes the vintage notion meaningless. 

The complex homogenization system used for this purpose is depicted in Fig. 3B.1. A few months after alcoholic fermentation has completed, the wine is transferred and any lees removed. In Jerez, wines to be biologically aged are fortified... 

Metabolite concentrations in wine depend on the particular aging conditions, number of rows in the criaderas and solera system, number of rocios and volume extracted for bottles per year, ratio area of the flor film to volume of wine, climatic conditions of the cellar (temperature and relative humidity) and alcoholic concentration, in addition to the particular flor yeasts present. Below are described the most common changes observed during the biological aging of wine, whether related to yeast metabolism or otherwise. 

Malolactic fermentation usually occurs in sobretablas wine as a result, the wine incorporated into the aging system contains no appreciable concentrations of malic acid. The decrease in tartaric acid contents during biological aging of the wine is a result of crystal precipitations. 

It is interesting, that the substrate specificity of nitrogenases is low in comparison with other enzymes. They also reduce acetylene (to ethylene), hydrazine [39], cyanide and azide. [40] From this, and from the presumably very high biological age of the enzyme system, W. S. Silver and John R. Postgate [41 ] con-duded that the enzyme s original purpose was not nitrogen fixation, but cyanide detoxification in the biosphere of Precambrian bacteria. 

Many experts believe that the major causes of chronic diseases come from genetics, lifestyles, and age. Each of us has a different and unique genetic makeup—a broad variance has evolved in biological defense systems with our individual bodies exhibiting strengths in some areas and weaknesses in other areas. This means that not everyone reacts to a chronic toxic exposure in the same way. Some people may fend off the toxic effects, while others may exhibit symptoms early. Thus, there may be a spectrum of responses to an exposure. 

Bunka DH, Stockley PG (2006) Aptamers come of age - at last, Nat Rev 4 588-596 Damm EM, Pelkmans L (2006) Systems biology of virus entry in mammalian cells. Cell Microbiol 8 1219-1227... 

This section discusses potential health effects from exposures during the period from conception to maturity at 18 years of age in humans, when all biological systems will have fully developed. Potential effects on offspring resulting from exposures of parental germ cells are considered, as well as any indirect effects on the fetus and neonate due to maternal exposure during gestation and lactation. Relevant animal and in vitro models are also discussed. 

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