Synthetic polymers, like plastic, are problematic due to their durability and resistance to degradation, leading to significant environmental pollution. Created from fossil fuels, they contribute to climate change and, when discarded, often end up in landfills or the ocean, taking hundreds to thousands of years to break down. This accumulation harms wildlife and ecosystems, as animals ingest or become entangled in plastic waste. Moreover, the production and disposal of synthetic polymers release harmful chemicals, further polluting air, water, and soil. Reducing their use, improving recycling processes, and developing biodegradable alternatives are crucial steps to mitigate these issues.

The amino acids that come from your diet are known as essential amino acids, which cannot be synthesized by the human body and, therefore, must be obtained from food. There are nine essential amino acids: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. These are found in various food sources, with complete proteins like meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, and quinoa containing all nine. Plant-based sources often have some but not all essential amino acids, so vegetarians and vegans need to eat a variety of protein-containing foods to ensure they obtain all essential amino acids. Incorporating a wide range of proteins into your diet is key to ensuring your body gets the necessary amino acids for tissue repair, muscle building, and other critical metabolic processes.

RGFP, or Renilla Green Fluorescent Protein, is a variant of GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) which is derived from the sea pansy, Renilla reniformis. Like its Aequorea victoria counterpart, RGFP serves as a bioluminescence marker in molecular and cellular biology. The typical GFP from Aequorea victoria comprises 238 amino acids, and while RGFP has been engineered for various optimizations, including improved brightness and photostability, the amino acid count remains generally similar to its Aequorea counterpart. However, specific variants of RGFP might slightly differ in their amino acid sequence due to mutations introduced for performance enhancements. Therefore, while the exact number can vary, RGFP usually contains around 238 amino acids, similar to the original GFP.