Creatinine

Definition

Creatinine is a waste product formed from the normal breakdown of muscle tissue. It is commonly measured in urine and blood to assess kidney function.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Creatinine levels are an important biomarker for kidney health as it is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys.
2. In microbial genetics, creatinine can be used as a standard to compare protein concentrations.
3. High levels of creatinine in the blood may indicate impaired kidney function or disease.
4. Microbial enzymes can be employed to measure creatinine levels in biological samples.
5. Visualization techniques such as mass spectrometry and chromatography are used to quantify creatinine.

Review Questions

• Why is creatinine an important biomarker for assessing kidney function?
• How can microbial enzymes be utilized in measuring creatinine levels?
• What visualization techniques are commonly used to quantify creatinine?

Related terms

Biomarker: A biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that indicates a condition or disease.

Mass Spectrometry:

An analytical technique that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of ions to identify and quantify molecules.

Chromatography:

A method for separating components of a mixture based on their different interactions with a stationary phase and a mobile phase.