Lecture 2- Cell biology Flashcards
What are atoms made of?
Protons+
neutrons
electrons -
When atoms bind together, what do they form?
What does it means when they are created broken apart, or modified?
Molecules, this is a chemical reaction
What is a wavelength of 1mm, with a light that is all around us called?
Cosmic microwave background radiation.
A chemical element is a what? how many elements are identified and how many naturally occur on earth?
an atom.
118 elements
94 occur naturally
if a molecule or single atom has an electric charge what is it?
- an Ion
What are molecules held together by ionic bonds?
salts (like table salt NaCI),
ionic bonds typically break apart and will dissolve in water.
CHNOPS stands for the main elements of cells whose combinations make up most biological molecules on earth, name them:
-Hydrogen 59%
-Oxygen 24%
-Carbon 11%
-Nitrogen 4 %
-(Phosphorus, Sulfur..) 2%
What are the 5 basic molecules of life formed by CHNOPS combinations:
- Water
- Sugar
- Fat (lipids)
- Nucleic acid
- Amino acid
*Almost everything found in a cell is one of these molecules or is made of a chain of the molecules.
Describe each molecular composition of cells (% and description)
Water (70% cell mass)
Sugar: 15% (string of sugar molecules carbohydrates)
Fat: 10% (lipid molecules form cell membrane and vesicles)
Nucleic Acids: 15% (RNA & DNA strands)
Amino Acids: 50% (long strings are called proteins)
Other organic molecules: 10%
RNA refers to what type of nucleic acid?
How many times can a RNA naturally fold?
What strand of RNA can accelerate chemical reactions?
What is the name of a protein that can accelerate a chemical reaction?
-RiboNucleic Acid
-3 dimensional shapes
-A ribozyme
-An enzyme
What are tRNAs?
They are small strands of RNA that can hold an amino acid, these amino acids can easily be string together to make new proteins.
RNA> tRNA>amino acids>new proteins
A ribosome is a molecular machine, what does it do?
A ribosome consists of strands of DNA and strands of amino acids.
It creates new proteins by linking together the amino acids held by tRNA molecules.
Describe the process of a ribosome:
-A part of the ribosome grabs onto a long strand of RNA.
-The ribosome identifies free floating tRNA molecules that will compliment the RNA strand.
-The ribosome slides across the strands of RNA every time a tRNA compliments it.
-It then removes the amino acids and attaches it to the next complimentary tRNA molecule
Step by step, it will link the amino acids held by tRNA molecules. like a slug
Why are proteins so important in life?
As RNA is fragile, there is greater abundance and diversity of amino acids, that can be strung together to form unique proteins.
=Protein enzymes are crucial accelerators of life’s chemical reactions.
Why is DNA so important?
RNA will break apart easily, so DNA is much better for long term info storage (stable and durable).
=DNA is the information storage molecule for all of life.
