intro to life and biomolecules Flashcards
What are the 7 properties of life?
- cellular organization
- ordered complexity
- sensitivity
- growth, development, and reproduction
- energy utilization
- Homeostasis
- evolutionary adaption
what is evolution
change of characteristics within population over time
what is natural selection
is a theory that explains evolution
what is adaption
a trait which increases the fitness of an organism
what is taxonomy
branch of study that addresses the classification of organisms (2 parts)
what is the hierarchical classification
Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
What is the Binomial Nomenclature and how do you write it?
It is 2 part scientific name derived from the Genus and Species levels: ex. Homo sapiens : Genus always capitalized - species is lower case- all is italicized or underlined
What must a Hypothesis be?
Testable and falsifiable
What are the 4 classes of Macromolecules?
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Proteins
- Nucleic acids
What is a polymer?
a long molecule consisting of many similar building blocks
What are monomers?
the repeating units that serve as building blocks
for polymers
Three of the four classes of macromolecules are polymers, which ones?
- Carbohydrates
- Proteins
- Nucleic acids
What is a Dehydration reaction? Does it require energy?
It is the removal of water that allows subunits to link together into large molecules. Pulling the water- the subunits get “thirsty” - forms bond to each other -grows a polymer. When you make something larger you need energy.
What is a Hydrolysis reaction? Does it require energy?
(water cutting) cuts polymer into smaller pieces. There is no energy required to break a bond but as the bond is broken there is a release of energy
What is an important function of a protein?
it is a enzyme catalyst for reactions
What is an enzyme?
a protein that act as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions. Enzymes can preform their functions as workhorses that carry out the processes of life.
Proteins sub unit is?
Amino acids.
What is an amino acid?
Organic molecules with amino and carboxyl groups
What is a proteins bond type?
Peptide bond.
What is a peptide bond?
a dehydration reaction
How many structures in a protein?
4 structures
what does primary structure do in a protein?
sequence of amino acids together- depending on R groups will determine additional structures
what does secondary structure
do in a protein?
Beta-pleated sheet or alpha helix
what does tertiary structure
do in a protein?
how the molecule folds up in 3D space- some proteins stop here
what does quaternary structure
do in a protein?
some proteins come to this structure- smaller proteins linked together enabling this function
What do carbohydrates do?
provide energy (short and long term energy storage) - source of energy depending on the structure.
What is carbohydrates made of?
Sugar, monosacrides - (3, 5, 6 carbon sugars) most important is Glucose
What are carbohydrates linked by and what are the differences between the two?
They are linked by Alpha and Beta glucose linkages and they are structured differently.
What do nucleic acids do?
Store, transmit and help express hereditary information(DNA).
What is the bond for Nucleic Acids?
Phosphodiester bond which builds polymers
What is ATP? What does it stand for?
Energy storing molecule, stands for Adenosine Triphosphate. Stores in bonds and has potential energy and kinetic energy.
What is the reaction for ATP?
Hydrolysis reaction
What do lipids do?
They use energy as molecules and they contain more energy per gram than other molecules. They are found in cell membranes and their behavior is vitally important.
How do Lipids behave?
They are hydrophobic so they do not like water, loosely defined grouping of molecules, one common feature is they are insoluble.
What sub unit makes up the majority of lipids?
Fatty acids- they share electrons evenly so they are non polar and water is polar so its hydrophobic because like dissolves like…
What are lipids linked by?
Triglyceride synthesis- fatty acids and dehydration reaction
Glycerol- one of the three dehydration reactions in the synthesis
Ester Linkage- fat molecule (triacylglycerol)
what is a Saturated fat
Straight linear molecules, Forms more solids, every carbon has 4 bonds
what is a Unsaturated fat
stays liquid @ room temp. bc its lacking H, lost H/carbon double bond, creates kinks- behaves diff. due to shape and bond length
What is a Phospholipid?
A lipid that has dual nature, it likes water but also does not like water.
