Biochemistry Introduction Flashcards
(43 cards)
What is biochemistry?
Study of structure, organizations, chemical compositions, functions and processes in a living organism.
It is also known as chemistry of life.
Biochemistry
What makes a living thing alive?
Exhibits high degree of complexity and organization, ability to utilize energy, and capacity to self-replicate.
The types of reactions most frequently encountered in living systems:
- Oxidation-reduction
- Intramolecular or intermolecular functional group-transfer reactions
- Hydrolysis of esters, ethers, and amides
- Elimination or addition reactions
- Isomerization reaction
- Formation of ester, thiol ester, and amide linkages.
Structural heirarchy of living systems?
- Organism:human
- Organ:brain
- Tissue:nerval/neural tissue
- cell:nerve cell
- organelle:mitochondria
- supramolecule assembly:outer mitochondria membrane
- macromolecule:cytochrome c
Biochemistry focuses on these levels in the heirarchy of biological structure.
Supramolecule and macromolecule
What is a cell?
Structural and functional unit of living organism
Unicellular
smallest organisms
Multicellular
larger organisms
How many cells does human contain?
10^14 cells
What are the 2 types of cell?
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cell
What is a prokaryotic cell?
small, simple in structure, lacks some organelles and contains only ONE single chromosome.
What is a eukaryotic cell?
has complex structure composed of several organelle and a membrane-enclosed nucleus which contain the genetic information within multiple chromosomes.
Examples of prokaryotic cell
bacteria and blue-green algae
Cell components of higher plants and animals
Eukaryotic cell
What are the major differences between prokaryotic cell and eukaryotic cell?
Size and complexity
What are the five kingdoms?
Animal, protista, monera, fungi, and plant
Parts: Membranes
Functions: bound the cell and made up of lipids and proteins. Regulates the transport of molecules in and out of the cell.
Parts: Nucleus
Function: site for the manufacture of nucleic acids
Parts: Nucleolus
Function: within the nucleus and is the center for RNA and proteins biosynthesis
Parts: Ribosomes
Functions: tiny particles in the cell and the site for manufacture of proteins
Parts: Lysosomes
Function: storage of catalytic proteins
Parts: Endoplasmic reticulum
Function: central part for the biosynthesis of macromolecules
Parts: Golgi apparatus
Functions: storage house of the cell and involved in packaging, transport and synthesis of carbohydrates