Ch 1 The Chemical Basis of Life Flashcards
What are the two categories of cellular architecture covered in the course?
- Prokaryotes
- Eukaryotes
Define Prokaryote.
Single-celled organisms, Greek meaning ‘before the nucleus’
Define Eukaryote.
Organisms with a true nucleus, can be single-celled or multicellular
What elements comprise over 99% of the mass in most cells?
- Carbon
- Oxygen
- Hydrogen
- Nitrogen
What is the study of molecules of life and their chemical reactions in living systems called?
Biochemistry
What are the main applications of biochemistry in medicine?
- Diagnose, monitor, and treat diseases
- Understand and treat metabolic diseases
- Antibody diagnostics and drugs
Fill in the blank: The chemical composition of biomolecules includes _______ as the backbone.
Carbon-based compounds
What is the primary focus of biochemistry in agriculture?
- High weight gain livestock feed
- Transgenic crops
- Herbicides and pesticides
What is the significance of functional groups in biomolecules?
They determine the chemical properties and diversity of the biomolecules
What type of bond allows carbon to form chains and rings?
Covalent bonds
What is the role of PLAs in the course?
- Tutor tricky topics
- Stay in contact with students
- Forward difficult questions to the instructor
What type of compounds are considered the simplest organic compounds?
- Carbon
- Carbon Monoxide (CO)
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Carbonic Acid (H2CO3)
What is the significance of the elements C, H, O, N, S, and P in biochemistry?
They are essential elements in the composition of biomolecules
What is an ester?
A compound formed from an alcohol and a carboxylic acid
What is an ester linkage?
The bond formed between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid in an ester
What functional group is associated with carboxylic acids?
Carboxyl group
What is a ketone?
A compound containing a carbonyl group (C=O) between two carbon atoms
What is an aldehyde?
A compound containing a carbonyl group (C=O) at the end of a carbon chain
What functional group is associated with thiols?
Sulfhydryl group
What are the four major types of biomolecules?
- Proteins
- Carbohydrates
- Nucleic acids
- Lipids
What are monomers?
Simpler biomolecular units that link to form polymers
What are the building blocks of nucleic acids?
Nucleotides
What is the general chemical formula for carbohydrates?
(CH2O)n where n ≥ 3
What is the primary function of proteins?
To perform a variety of functions including catalysis and structural maintenance
What is cholesterol?
An important lipid for human health
Fill in the blank: Monomers link sequentially to form _______.
polymers
What does Gibbs free energy (G) measure?
The free energy of a system based on enthalpy and entropy
What is enthalpy (H)?
The heat content of a system
What is entropy (S)?
A measure of the system’s disorder or randomness
What does a negative ΔG indicate?
The reaction is spontaneous or exergonic
What does a positive ΔG indicate?
The reaction is nonspontaneous or endergonic
What is the relationship between free energy change and reaction spontaneity?
If ΔG < 0, the reaction is spontaneous; if ΔG > 0, it is nonspontaneous
What is the ultimate source of energy for most life on Earth?
Light from the sun
Fill in the blank: Reduction is the gain of _______.
electrons
Fill in the blank: Oxidation is the loss of _______.
electrons
What is the significance of the sequence of monomers in biological macromolecules?
It can be read as a set of instructions
