Biochem Flashcards
What are living organisms made of? (organic and inorganic molecules)
Organic (lipids, proteins, carbs, nucleic acids, vitamins)
Inorganic (water, minerals ex. calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, sulfur)
What do all organic compounds contain?
Carbon and hydrogen
Where are organic compounds found?
In living organisms.
What are some exceptions to the organic (CH) rule?
hydrocarbonates, carbonates, oxides of carbon
What is vitalism?
Living organisms are different from entities cuz they contain some non-physical element (a spark or energy)
What experiment falsified vitalism? Explain it.
The synthesis of urea from inorganic compounds falsified the idea that only organic compounds can make such compounds.
What two processes make up metabolism?
Anabolism and catabolism
Are ALL metabolic reactions enzyme catalyzed?
yes
What is anabolism? What process does it use?
Anabolism is the building up of compounds (from monomers to polymers) using condensation.
What is catabolism? What process does it use?
Catabolism is the breaking down of compounds (cellulose to glucose) using hydrolysis.
What is another name for condensation?
Dehydration synthesis since you remove a molecule of water.
What do hydrolysis reactions need as a reactant?
Water
What do ocean waters and air currents transfer?
Heat
What explains the properties of water?
H-bonds and dipolarity
What are some properties of water? (3)
Adhesion and cohesive properties, universal solvent, thermal properties (high heat capacity, boiling and melting point)
What two things is cohesion in water responsible for?
Transpiration pull, surface tension
What is adhesion in water responsible for?
Transpiration pull
What property in water makes it the universal solvent?
Its bent shape/polarity.
How is glucose transported in blood? Is it polar or not?
Polar and dissolved in blood plasma
How is cholesterol carried in blood? Is it polar or non-polar?
lipoprotein complex and is insoluble with a small hydrophilic spot.
How are amino acids carried in the blood? Polar or non-polar?
Polar and dissolved in plasma.
How are fats carried in the blood? Polar or non-polar?
Non-polar and inside lipoprotein complexes.
How is oxygen transported in the blood? Polar or non-polar?
Hemoglobin, some dissolved in the blood. Oxygen is non-polar but small size makes it partly soluble.
How is sodium chloride transported in the blood?
Dissolves in plasma.
What property of water allows for high boiling point?
H-bonds
What does it mean that water has a high specific heat capacity?
This means water can absorb/lose a large amount of energy without significantly changing the temperature of the water.
What are the benefits of water having a high heat capacity?
Helps organisms maintain constant temperature and regulates environmental temperature. (especially for aquatic organisms)
What does it mean for water to have a high heat of vaporization?
the amount of energy needed to change water from liquid to a gas is high.
What is having a high heat of vaporization or water good for?
Evaporative cooling, ex sweating.
What do the differences between water and methane arise from?
The lack of H-bonding in methane.
Do water and methane conduct electricity?
No, pure water should not.
Name 4 ways animals can get water.
Drinking, eating, cell resp, absorbing thru the skin
How do plants get water?
Roots
How do animals lose water? (4)
Breathing, sweating, feces, urine
How do plants lose water?
Transpiration
What do organisms use nutrients for?
To survive/grow
What are 4 macronutrients?
Carbs, lipids, proteins, nucleic acid.
What do macronutrients provide?
They provide the main energy and building blocks source for living organisms.
What are two micronutrients? What do they provide?
Water and minerals. They provide the necessary cofactors for metabolism (control body processes).
What are essential nutrients?
Can’t be synthesized by the body and must be included in the diet.
What are four essential nutrients?
Dietary minerals like iron, vitamins like vitamin C in humans due to the “GULO” gene mutation, essential fatty acids, and essential amino acids.
What can cause rickets?
A lack of vitamin D and calcium.
What are two essential fatty acids? Why are they necessary?
Alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3) and linoleic acid (omega-6). Necessary for good health.
How many animo acids can’t be synthesized in the body?
9/20
What does a lack of amino acids affect?
The production of proteins.
What type of carbs are the macromolecules?
Starches
What are the building blocks of carbs?
Simple sugars and polysaccharides.
What are the building blocks for lipids?
Glycerol and fatty acids.
What are the building blocks of Nucleic Acids (DNA/RNA)?
Nucleotides
What are the building blocks of proteins?
Amino acids