Chapter 1 Flashcards
Evidence of evolution
- information that supports the theory of evolution
- the theory that all organisms on earth are descended from one or few common ancestors
- organisms on earth share some biochemistry
- they all contain carbon-based compounds that interact with each other
- eg they use the same nucleic acids
- suggests animals and plants have a common ancestor
- indirect evidence for evolution
Monomers and polymers
Most carbohydrates, proteins and. Nucleic acids are polymers
-polymers are large, complex molecules composed of long gains of monomers joined together
Making polymers
- most biological polymers are formed from their monomers by condensation reactions
- a condensation reaction forms a chemical bond between monomers, releasing a molecule of water
Breaking down polymers
Hydrolysis reactions break down polymers to monomers by the. Chemical bond being broken using a water molecule
What is a monomer
A monomer is a small, base molecular unit that forms a polymer
What is a polymer
A long complex chain of many monomers
Give some examples of monomers
Nucleotide, monosaccharides, amino acids
Explain three was in which a starch molecules are adapted for their function in plant cell
- Insoluble;
- Don’t affect water potential;
and - Helical;
- Compact;
And - Large molecule;
- Cannot leave cell;
Explain how cellulose molecules are adapted for their function in plant cells
- Long and straight chains;
- Become linked together by many hydrogen bonds to form fibrils;
- Provide strength (to cell wall);
Describe the structure of proteins (7)
- Polymer of amino acids;
- Joined by peptide bonds;
- Formed by condensation;
- Primary structure is order of amino acids;
- Secondary structure is folding of polypeptide chain due to hydrogen bonding;
- Tertiary structure is 3-D folding due to hydrogen bonding and ionic/disulfide bonds;
- Quaternary structure is two or more polypeptide chains;