Lecture 4: The Chemistry Of Life Flashcards
Why are smaller organisms better than larger organisms.
They are able to carry out diffusion faster
Where are are the enzymes responsible for biosynthesis of membrane lipids would be located in what part of the cell?
The (smooth) endoplasmic reticulum.
Which of the following best explains a child who is unable to play physical games and is very weak:
A) mutation in their mitochondrial DNA leading to reduced ATP production
B) lysosomal storage disease
C) mutation in an enzyme of the smooth ER preventing the detoxifying of drugs
D) mutation in their nuclear DNA resulting in too much ATP production
A
Organisms are composed of _______? ______ is made up of _______?
Matter; matter; elements
96% of living matter is made up of 4 elements:
Oxygen
Carbon
Hydrogen
Nitrogen
What are the trace elements required for life (and what is their role)? What percentage is found in the body?
Iron: needed for transportation of oxygen in hemoglobin
iodine: needed for hormone production in the thyroid
copper: needed for multiple metabolic enzymes
which make up less than 0.01%
Why are weak bonds important?
They:
- reinforce shapes of molecules (to interact with cell surface to fit into cell surface receptor, right shape means chemical will work-do its job (ie. morphine will fit into receptor mimicking natural endorphins)
- help molecules adhere to each other
- their reversibility can be an advantage
- large number of weak chemical bond is significant in strength (large number of weak forces can create a large net of force)
The human body is ___% water
60-70
Why is water critically important for life?
The water molecule has polar covalent bonds and all its atoms can form hydrogen bonds
The chemical bonds between hydrogen and oxygen within water are ______________ bonds. All 3 atoms in a water molecule can form _______ bonds.
Polar covalent; hydrogen
Hydrogen bonds are important in understanding water’s many biological functions including:
- its ability to adopt different states
- its heat capacity/heat of vaporization
- its cohesive properties (surface tension)
- its solvent properties
Why is water the solvent of life?
Water can dissolve more substances than any other ______. The compounds dissolved in water are the _______.
Solvent; solute
What happens when NaCl dissolves in water?
Spheres of hydration are formed around the ions
The ionic regions (Cl-, and Na+) vhgvgvhvhvhvhgvhgv
hydrophobic interactions
The relationship between polar-hydrophilic molecules and nonpolar-hydrophobic, which cause hydrophobic molecules to cluster together to reduce contact with the polar molecules.
The chemistry of life centres around which atom?
Carbon
Functional groups are components of _________ involved in ___________.
They typically have one or more ____________.
The ________&___________ of functional groups give these ____________ their unique properties.
Organic molecules; chemical reactions; electronegative atoms; number; arrangement ; organic molecules
What are the seven functional groups that are most important in the chemistry of life?
Hydroxyl Carbonyl Carboxyl Amino Sulfhydryl Phosphate Methyl
What are the four major categories of macromolecules?
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nuclei acids
What are large carbon-based molecules that carry out the function of life, where their structure and function are inseparable?
Macromolecules
The Diversity of Macromolecules
Each cell has thousands of different macromolecules which vary depending on the cell types, and more between individuals of a species, and more between different species.
Building macromolecules
Monomers are joined via a dehydration or polymerization reaction which lengthens polymers or they can be broken down by a hydrolysis reaction
carbohydrates provide the cell with ______ and have many _______&______ roles.
Chemical energy; storage; structural
What are examples of polymers of glucose (and their role)?
Glycogen- energy storage in animal cells
Cellulose- a component in plant cell walls
Nucleic acids are polymers called …?
Polynucleotides
