Biological molecules Flashcards
What does DNA stand for?
Deoxyribonucleic acid
What are the 4 types of nitrogen bases in DNA?
- Adenine
- Thymine
- Guanine
- Cytosine
Why does the 4 bases of DNA matter?
Determines what biological instructions are contained in a strand of DNA
What pairs do the bases go in?
Adenine —> Thymine (A,T)
Guanine —> Cytosine (G,C)
What is the test for glucose?
Benedict’s solution
What’s the method for carrying out the test for glucose?
- Add Benedict’s solution to the sample solution in a test tube
- Heat in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes
- Take the test tube out of the water bath and observe the colour
- A positive test will show a colour change from blue to orange / brick red
What is the test for starch?
Iodine solution
What’s the method for carrying out the test for starch?
- Add drops of iodine solution to the food sample
- A positive test will show a colour change from orange-brown to blue-black
What is the test for protein?
Biuret solution
What’s the method for carrying out the test for protein?
- Add drops of Biuret solution to the food sample
- A positive test will show a colour change from blue to violet / purple
What is the test for lipids?
Ethanol
What’s the method for carrying out the test for lipids?
- Mix the food sample with 4cm3 of ethanol and shake
- Allow time for the sample to dissolve in the ethanol
- Strain the ethanol solution into another test tube
- Add the ethanol solution to an equal volume of cold distilled water (4cm3)
- A positive test will show a cloudy emulsion forming
How to prepare a sample for food tests?
- Break up the food using a pestle and mortar
- Transfer to a test tube and add distilled water
- Mix the food with the water by stirring with a glass rod
- Filter the mixture using a funnel and filter paper, collecting the solution
- Proceed with the food tests
What does CORMS stand for?
- Change
- Organism
- Repeat
- Measurement 1
- Measurement 2
- Same
What’s the chemical element for carbohydrates?
Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen