Chapter 1- Overview Flashcards
Biochemistry has what because of evolution?
Unity
What is biological conservation?
When distantly related proteins, cells, parts of organisms are very similar due to the efficacy of it over many generations
Where was most of the pathways discovered first? And what does that show us?
In Bacteria and it shows us the relationship between us and bacteria
Biology uses mainly _____ elements plus ______ salts
6 elements and inorganic
What are the elements of Biology?
CHON P.S. (Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Sulfur)
What is the most important biological compound?
Water
What percentage in the human body of each element (mass wise)?
65% O
18% C
10% H
Why is water the most important biological compound?
- 60-80% of our mass
- Solvent
3.Participant in reactions
All Biochemical structure is based off of not being soluble in …
H2O
Do we gain more water or lose more water throughout our lifetime?
We lose more water throughout our lifetime which means we dry out throughout life
Biochemistry consists of _____ classes of organic compounds. And what are they?
5 and they are Carbohydrates, Lipids, Nucleic Acids and Proteins, Small organic molecules (like vitamins and alkaloids)
DNA provides an example of how structure…
determines function
DNA is _____________ stranded
double
What is the basic structure of a nucleic acid?
Base, sugar, phosphate
DNA is a linear ______________ of different _____
polymer
bases
What are the 2 main functions of DNA?
- to serve as the repository of the genetic information
- to serve as the basis for the reproduction of that information (base pairing is crucial for this)
The hydrogen donor is typically attached to …
N, O, Cl
What kind of bonds are involved in DNA?
hydrogen bonds
The hydrogen acceptor is either a ….
O or N
What kind of interactions is very strong among DNA?
dipole-dipole interactions (10x as strong)
Important biochemical interactions include…
- electrostatic interactions (10 strong)
- hydrogen bonds
- hydrophobic interactions (10x weaker)
What are three characteristics of electrostatic interactions?
- between full electrical charges
- attracts or repels
- is weak in aqueous solution because it competes with water
Hydrogen bonds are 10x…
weaker than electrostatic interactions
Hydrophobic interactions are 10x….
weaker than dipole interactions.
What is to be said about the hydrophobic interactions length of time?
They are short lived induced. They only are very effective in a small window of time.
Hydrophobic interactions are also known as ?
Van der Waal’s interactions
Why are hydrophobic interactions considered not a real “force”?
Because they are excluded from aqueous environments they are “forced” to come together (Forrest Gump)
Does DNA have hydrophobic interactions?
Yes, it creates the opportunity for base pairs to come together.
Is DNA completely soluble in H2O?
No. Parts of DNA is not soluble in H2O.
What are two important types of reactions in biochemistry?
- Redox reactions
- Acid- Base reactions
Can there be partial acidic and basic parts on a molecule?
Yes there are certain moieties that can be acidic and others that can be basic. within the same molecule.
All acid base chemistry in biochemistry happens in what solvent?
Water
What is the Bronsted Lowry theory?
Proton donor is acidic.
Proton acceptor is basic.
Moieties have to be…
connected
pH measures what?
the acidity and basicity of an environment
pKa measures what?
the acidity and basicity of a moiety
low pH or low pKa is more basic or acidic?
acidic (closer to zero)
high pH or high pKa is more basic or acidic?
basic (closer to 14)
Can you have different pKa on an individual compound?
Yes, a pKa can be different on different moities
A moiety is _________ when the pH is lower than its pKa.
protonated
A moiety is ______ when the pH is higher than its pKa.
un-protonated
What is biological pH? And why do we know that number?
7.5 because that’s what it is in the cytoplasm and extracellular space in our cells
pH determines
charge
A buffer does what to a solution?
Maintains a pH in a more narrow window
Modern biochemistry includes ___________ based as well as ____________ _________methods.
discovery based
hypothesis driven
What is the steps in the scientific method?
Observe, hypothesize, predict, experiment, reevaluate hypothesis (rinse and repeat)
Hypothesis driven is limited by ____________
us
Discovery based science gathers _____________
data and makes observations with no hypothesis already in mind
