Enzymes and Biological Molecules Flashcards
What are organic molecules, and why are they important in living organisms?
Organic molecules contain carbon and hydrogen atoms and are essential for providing energy and raw materials for growth and tissue repair.
What are the four main groups of organic molecules found in living organisms?
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
What property allows carbon atoms to form large and diverse structures in organic molecules?
Carbon atoms bond strongly with other carbon atoms, forming chains and ring structures.
What is the study of organic and inorganic molecules in living organisms called?
Biochemistry
Define hydrolysis and condensation reactions in living organisms.
Hydrolysis: Large molecules are broken down into smaller ones by the addition of water.
Condensation: Large molecules are built from smaller ones by the removal of water.
Why is the solubility of molecules like glucose and amino acids important in living organisms?
Soluble molecules can be easily transported and absorbed, while insoluble molecules like starch and fats are better suited for storage.
Give one important function of each group of organic molecules:
Carbohydrates: Provide energy for life processes.
Lipids: Store energy and form cell membranes.
Proteins: Support growth, repair, and enzymatic activities.
Nucleic acids: Store and transmit genetic information.
Why might nucleic acids, proteins, or carbohydrates be considered the most important molecules in living cells?
Nucleic acids: Essential for genetic information storage and transmission.
Proteins: Crucial for enzymes, structure, and cellular functions.
Carbohydrates: Provide energy to sustain life processes.
What are biological molecules often called, and why?
They are called organic molecules because they were discovered in living organisms.
Which elements do organic molecules always contain?
Carbon and hydrogen.
Why can organic molecules form a wide variety of structures?
Carbon atoms bond strongly to each other, forming chains and rings.
What are the two main needs for organic molecules in living organisms?
Providing energy for life processes and raw materials for growth and tissue repair.
How do living organisms obtain the organic molecules they need?
Through nutrition.
What are the four main groups of organic molecules in living organisms?
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Name one inorganic molecule essential for living organisms.
Water
What is metabolism?
The sum of all chemical reactions in living organisms.
What are large organic molecules typically made up of?
Smaller, similar molecules called subunits.
What is hydrolysis?
A reaction where large molecules are broken down into smaller ones by the addition of water.
What is condensation in biochemistry?
A reaction where large molecules are built from smaller ones by the removal of water.
How can living organisms rearrange molecules for their needs?
By using hydrolysis to break down molecules and condensation to build them up in new combinations.
Why is solubility important for molecules like glucose and amino acids?
Soluble molecules can be transported and absorbed efficiently in the body.
Why are insoluble molecules like starch and fats important?
They are better suited for storage in living organisms.
What function does each group of organic molecules serve?
Carbohydrates: Provide energy.
Lipids: Store energy and form membranes.
Proteins: Support growth and enzymatic activities.
Nucleic acids: Store and transmit genetic information.
Why are nucleic acids considered vital?
They store and transmit genetic information essential for life.
Why are proteins often called the most important molecules?
They function as enzymes, structural components, and facilitate cellular processes.
Why might carbohydrates be essential for life?
They are the primary energy source for life processes.
What happens to starch in a rat’s cells during digestion?
It undergoes hydrolysis to break down into glucose subunits, which are then used to build glycogen through condensation reactions.
What are monosaccharides, and give an example?
Monosaccharides are the simplest carbohydrates, e.g., glucose, which is soluble and easily transported in blood and cells.
What is the main function of monosaccharides in cells?
They are the primary source of energy for many cells.
How are polysaccharides formed, and give two examples?
Polysaccharides are formed by combining many monosaccharides. Examples include starch and glycogen.
Why are polysaccharides good for energy storage?
They are insoluble, making them ideal for energy storage and forming structures like cellulose in cell walls.
What elements do carbohydrates contain?
Carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O).
What is the difference between fats and oils?
Fats are solid at room temperature, while oils are liquid.
Why are fats and oils good for energy storage?
They are insoluble in water and form barriers between watery environments.
How are lipids formed?
By the condensation of three fatty acid molecules with one glycerol molecule.
What is the biological significance of lipids being insoluble?
They act as excellent energy stores and form barriers, like cell membranes.
What are proteins made of, and how are they formed?
Proteins are made of long chains of amino acids joined by condensation reactions.
How many different amino acids exist, and what determines a protein’s function?
There are 20 different amino acids. The sequence and shape of the amino acids determine a protein’s function.
Give an example of two protein structures and their functions.
Long and thin: Keratin in hair and nails.
Spherical: Enzymes or antibodies with active or binding sites.
Why are amino acids soluble, and what advantage does this provide?
Amino acids are soluble, enabling them to be transported in living organisms and react in the cytoplasm.
What elements do proteins sometimes contain besides carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen?
Nitrogen (N) and sometimes sulfur (S).
What is the simplest organic molecule, and what is its formula?
Methane, CH₄.
What determines the biological function of a molecule?
Its shape and structure.
What are nucleic acids, and what elements do they contain?
Nucleic acids, such as DNA, contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P).
What is the structure of DNA, and what is its function?
DNA is a double helix. It carries genetic information in the sequence of its bases, passed from generation to generation.
How does the sequence of DNA bases affect an organism?
It forms a code that instructs cells or organisms to perform specific tasks.
How do hydrolysis and condensation relate to carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins?
Hydrolysis: Breaks down large molecules into subunits.
Condensation: Joins subunits to form larger molecules.
What is the objective of biochemical tests?
To describe simple chemical tests for molecules in living organisms.
Why might scientists test for glucose in a urine sample?
The presence of glucose in urine may indicate diabetes.
Why would an environmental scientist test for starch in factory outflows?
To check for contamination or residues from food production.
