WILTIMS #95: GAGs, gags, gags and gags about GAGs, gags and gags.

Today was a solidly good day. Class was marginally interesting and I found a new way to study for biochemistry (which I'll show you when it's further along). I successfully found money for the club for which I am treasurer. I had a blast playing kickball for an hour with the kids at the juvenile detention center down the road. And the tastiest part was that the interviewee that we hosted last night left us a box of chocolate truffles. On nom nom.

One of the topics in biochemistry today was a class of molecules called glycosaminoglycans or GAGs for short. This awkward acronym made it sound like we were constantly discussing bad science jokes ("The GAGs of physiological significance are...") or the specifics of retching ("Remember this is the only GAG that doesn’t have uronic acid.").

TIL: Hyaluronic acid is a GAG that can be administered by injection into joints as a lubricant.

I also learned that there are a bajillion diseases caused by defects in the glycolipid metabolism pathway: