Biochemistry Introduction

Question 1

What is biochemistry?

Answer 1

Study of structure, organizations, chemical compositions, functions and processes in a living organism.

Question 2

It is also known as chemistry of life.

Answer 2

Biochemistry

Question 3

What makes a living thing alive?

Answer 3

Exhibits high degree of complexity and organization, ability to utilize energy, and capacity to self-replicate.

Question 4

The types of reactions most frequently encountered in living systems:

Answer 4

1. Oxidation-reduction
2. Intramolecular or intermolecular functional group-transfer reactions
3. Hydrolysis of esters, ethers, and amides
4. Elimination or addition reactions
5. Isomerization reaction
6. Formation of ester, thiol ester, and amide linkages.

Question 5

Structural heirarchy of living systems?

Answer 5

1. Organism:human
2. Organ:brain
3. Tissue:nerval/neural tissue
4. cell:nerve cell
5. organelle:mitochondria
6. supramolecule assembly:outer mitochondria membrane
7. macromolecule:cytochrome c

Question 6

Biochemistry focuses on these levels in the heirarchy of biological structure.

Answer 6

Supramolecule and macromolecule

Question 7

What is a cell?

Answer 7

Structural and functional unit of living organism

Question 8

Unicellular

Answer 8

smallest organisms

Question 9

Multicellular

Answer 9

larger organisms

Question 10

How many cells does human contain?

Answer 10

10^14 cells

Question 11

What are the 2 types of cell?

Answer 11

Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cell

Question 12

What is a prokaryotic cell?

Answer 12

small, simple in structure, lacks some organelles and contains only ONE single chromosome.

Question 13

What is a eukaryotic cell?

Answer 13

has complex structure composed of several organelle and a membrane-enclosed nucleus which contain the genetic information within multiple chromosomes.

Question 14

Examples of prokaryotic cell

Answer 14

bacteria and blue-green algae

Question 15

Cell components of higher plants and animals

Answer 15

Eukaryotic cell

Question 16

What are the major differences between prokaryotic cell and eukaryotic cell?

Answer 16

Size and complexity

Question 17

What are the five kingdoms?

Answer 17

Animal, protista, monera, fungi, and plant

Question 18

Parts: Membranes

Answer 18

Functions: bound the cell and made up of lipids and proteins. Regulates the transport of molecules in and out of the cell.

Question 19

Parts: Nucleus

Answer 19

Function: site for the manufacture of nucleic acids

Question 20

Parts: Nucleolus

Answer 20

Function: within the nucleus and is the center for RNA and proteins biosynthesis

Question 21

Parts: Ribosomes

Answer 21

Functions: tiny particles in the cell and the site for manufacture of proteins

Question 22

Parts: Lysosomes

Answer 22

Function: storage of catalytic proteins

Question 23

Parts: Endoplasmic reticulum

Answer 23

Function: central part for the biosynthesis of macromolecules

Question 24

Parts: Golgi apparatus

Answer 24

Functions: storage house of the cell and involved in packaging, transport and synthesis of carbohydrates

Question 25

Parts: Mitochondria

Answer 25

Functions: powerhouse of the cell and its inner membrane is the site for oxidative phosphorylation and electron transport

Question 26

Characteristics of cellular life?

Answer 26

contains cell membrane, contains DNA, and composed of basic chemicals

Question 27

Function of the cell:

Answer 27

regulate, reproduce, and requires a supply of energy.

Question 28

Plasma membrane

Answer 28

it separates cell from its environment and it provides mechanical strength and shape to the cell. Its vital function is transport.

Question 29

Nucleus

Answer 29

it contains the cell’s blueprint or the hereditary information.

Question 30

Endoplasmic reticulum (Rough ER)

Answer 30

primarily involved in the synthesis of membrane proteins and protein for export from the cell.

Question 31

Endoplasmic reticulum (Smooth ER)

Answer 31

involved in lipid synthesis

Question 32

Ribosomes

Answer 32

biosynthesis of proteins and 20 nm in diameter

Question 33

Golgi complex

Answer 33

involved in packaging and distribution of cell products to internal and external compartments

Question 34

Lysosomes

Answer 34

it contains digestive enzymes and functions in intracellular and extracellular digestion. It is also known as the suicide bag of the cell.

Question 35

Peroxisomes

Answer 35

small spherical membranous organelles that contain enzymes and also involved in the generation and breakdown of toxic molecules such as peroxides

Question 36

Mitochondria

Answer 36

Powerhouse of the cell and aerobic respiration takes place here.

Question 37

Chloroplast

Answer 37

found only in plants, algae, and some protists

Question 38

Vacuole

Answer 38

very large and are extremely important in providing structural support, as well as serving functions such as storage, waste, disposal, protection, and growth.

Question 39

Cell wall

Answer 39

provides cell with structural support protection, and acts as a filtering mechanism and prevents over-expansion when water enters the cell.

Question 40

Carbohydrates/sugars

Answer 40

these are energy source and are important components of genetic materials.

Question 41

Proteins

Answer 41

are biological catalysts and antibodies that fight antigens.

Question 42

Lipids

Answer 42

structural components of biological membranes and provide energy reserves in the form of triacylglycerols

Question 43

Nucleic acids

Answer 43

these are information molecules and their primary structure is encoded a set of directions that ultimately governs the metabolic activities of the living cell.