LEC 2: Intro to BC

Question 1

Define biochemistry

Answer 1

A science that uses the principles and language of chemistry to understand and explain biological processes

Question 2

What makes something “living” (6)

Answer 2

1. Reproduces
2. Responds to an outside stimulus (Light, noise…)
3. Organized/ Fights entropy (takes a lot of E)
4. Internal regulation
5. Energy processing
6. Growth

Question 3

What are the 6 chemical components of life

Answer 3

CHNOPS
Carbon
Hydrogen
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Phosphate
Sulfur

Question 4

____(%) of water

Answer 4

80

Question 5

____(%) of dry weight

Answer 5

20

Question 6

Carbon is one of the ___ elements that form ___ (by electron pair sharing) with itself and other atoms

Answer 6

Lightest, Covalent interactions

Question 7

Define Tetravalence

Answer 7

Ability to form 4 bonds with other elements including itself makes large, complex molecules possible

Question 8

Most biomolecules are not classified as hydrocarbons, because they contain other atoms in addition to CHNOP
It is also referred to as ____.

Answer 8

Heteroatoms

Question 9

What are the main functional groups (8)

Answer 9

Hydroxyl
Acyl
Carbonyl
Thiol
Amino
Phosphate
Phosphyl

Question 10

What are the main organic compounds (6)

Answer 10

Alcohol
Aldehyde
Ketone
Carboxylic acid
Thiol
Amines

Question 11

What are the 4 major classes of biomolecules and their percentage

Answer 11

1. Proteins (50%)
2. Carbohydrates (15%)
3. Nucleic Acids (15%)
4. Lipids/Fats (10%)

Question 12

Define polymer

What is the exception?

Answer 12

Made by joining monomers, They are macromolecules

EXCEPTION: Lipids are NOT polymeric moleucles

Question 13

Proteins are highly __ biomolecules (ex: Hormones, Antibodies, Membrane transporters, Enzymes)

Answer 13

Versatile

Question 14

Amino acids are linked by ___ to form long unbranched polymers

Answer 14

Peptide covalent bonds

Question 15

All amino acids possess an ___ .

Answer 15

Alpha Carbon

Question 16

What is an alpha carbon attached to (4)

Answer 16

1. Amino Group (NH2)
2. Carboxyl group (COOH)
3. Hydrogen group (H)
4. Sidechain (R)

Question 17

The amino and carboxylic group can be ___ depending on the surrounding __

Answer 17

Ionized

pH

Question 18

What is the physiological pH

Answer 18

6.8-7.4

Question 19

At the physiological pH, the amino group will be ___ and the carboxylic group will be ___

Answer 19

Protonated

Deprotonated

Question 20

Define Nucleic Acids

Answer 20

Macromolecules that store and transfer genetic info

Question 21

What are the 2 types of Nucleic Acids

Answer 21

RNA (ribonucleic acid)

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

Question 22

Each DNA and RNA polymer is constructed from 4 building blocks called ___.

Answer 22

Nucleotides

Question 23

Nucleotides are composed of 5___, a ___, and a ___

Answer 23

Carbon sugar
Phosphate group
Nitrogenous base

Question 24

What are the 5 nitrogenous bases

Answer 24

1. Adenine (A)
2. Guanine (G)
3. Thymine (T)
4. Uracil (U)
5. Cytosine (C)

Question 25

Carbohydrates serve as ___, ___, and ___

Answer 25

Fuel source
Structural components
Info molecules

Question 26

Carbohydrates are composed of what atoms

Answer 26

COH

Question 27

Chains of carbohydrates play important roles in helping cells to ___ one another and ___

Answer 27

Recognize, Communicate

Question 28

What is the most abundant compound in our bodies

Answer 28

Water