Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

General Biology I > lecture 5: biomolecules part 1 > Flashcards

lecture 5: biomolecules part 1 Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What are biomolecules?

A

Diverse set of molecules important for life. Mainly organic compounds —> carbon skeleton

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the 4 major classes of biomolecules?

A
  1. Carbohydrates
  2. Lipids
  3. Proteins
  4. Nucleic acids
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Why is carbon a good building block?

A

4 bonds = very stable
Can make double bonds
Infinite skeleton

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the major components in organic compounds and biomolecules?

A
  • Carbon skeleton
  • Hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen: 95% of human body mass is made up of C, H, O, and N
  • Sulfur, phosphorus (in biomolecules)
  • Ions Ca2+, Cl-, Mg2+, K+, Na+
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the 2 types of sources of energy?

A
  1. Phototroph: uses light energy

2. Chemotroph: uses chemical energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the 2 types of sources of carbon?

A
  1. Autotroph: uses inorganic compounds

2. Heterotroph: uses organic compounds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the two elements composing a biomolecule and what are their purposes?

A
  1. Carbon skeleton —> gives characteristic shape
  2. Functional groups —> characteristic properties

Together = give UNIQUE structures and properties that lead to UNIQUE biological functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Carbon skeletons vary in… (4 elements)

A
  1. Chain length
  2. Presence and position of Double Bonds
  3. Branching
  4. Formation of Rings
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What does “structure fits function” mean?

A

Shapes of molecules correlate with its function. At ALL levels of biological organization.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Monomer vs Polymer

A

Monomer: a single macromolecule
Polymer: chain of repeating subunits; many macromolecules

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the 2 types and the 3 classes of carbohydrates?

A
  1. Simple carbohydrates
    - Monosaccharides
    - Disaccharides
  2. Complex carbohydrates
    - Polysaccharides
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Monosaccharide structure?

A

Multiples of CH2O

  • Need at least 3 carbons
  • C3H6O3 —> C5H10O5 —> CGH12O6
  • Can form rings in water
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Disaccharide structure?

A

Two monosaccharides joined together (2 hexagons)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Polysaccharide structure?

A

Chains of polymers; multiple hexagons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is adenosine triphosphate (ATP)?

A

Energy currency, used to power biological work

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the function of monosaccharides?

A

They are energy source that can be broken down in cells (by cellular respiration) to produce ATP.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the 2 functions of polysaccharides?

A
  1. Storage carbohydrates: to store energy in cells

2. Structural carbohydrates: used for building materials to provide strength and elasticity for support and protection

18
Q

Characteristics of storage carbohydrates?

A
  1. Chains and branching —> really COMPACT, so can store more energy
  2. Easily broken down
  3. ALPHA type linkage
19
Q

Characteristics of structural carbohydrates?

A
  1. No branching: linear and organized —> fit less glucose
  2. Need enzymes to break them down
  3. BETA type linkage
20
Q

What structural characteristic fit the function of storage carbohydrates?

A

Compact nature = can store more glucose

21
Q

What structural chracteristic fit the function of structural carbohydrates?

A

Linear and organized —> can interact with other chains to form higher orders of structure

22
Q

What are 2 types of storage carbohydrates and where do we find them?

A
  1. Starch: used for energy storage in PLANT cells

2. Glycogen: used for energy storage in ANIMAL cells

23
Q

What is an example of structural carbohydrate and where do we find it?

A

Cellulose: used for structural support in CELL WALLS of PLANTS and many algae

24
Q

Why are structural carbohydrates good building materials?

A
  • Can form higher order structures
  • Very strong and somewhat flexible
  • Are resistant to be broken down: most organisms do not have the enzymes to hydrolyze them
25
Q

What are the primary decomposers of structural polysaccharides?

A

Bacteria and fungi species

26
Q

How do herbivores digest cellulose in plants?

A

Microorganisms in their digestive system can produce enzymes to breakdown cellulose —> form symbiosis with host

27
Q

Why is plant material an important part of our diet, even if we can’t digest most of it?

A

Dietary fiber, prevent disease, benefits to health

28
Q

What does “hydrolyze” cellulose mean?

A

To break down a structure

29
Q

What are the 3 types of lipids?

A
  1. Fats
  2. Phospholipids
  3. Steroids
30
Q

What is the unifying feature of all lipids?

A

They are all hydrophobic (little or no affinity for water)

31
Q

Fat structure?

A

Glycerol + 3 fatty acids

32
Q

Oleic acid (18:1) is a fatty acid. What do these numbers mean?

A 
18 = 18 carbons
1 = 1 double bond
33
Q

Fat function in animals? (4 elements)

A
  1. Fat = connective tissues
  2. Acts as long-term energy storage
  3. To protect internal organs
  4. To insulate the body and help regulate temperature
34
Q

Fat function in plants and where do we find them?

A

Fat = liquid —> oil

Found in seeds where they are an energy source for development of embryo (nutrients for embryo)

35
Q

What is the difference between animal and plant fat?

A
  1. Saturated fat = animal fat —> all filled up, max C-H bonds
  2. Unsaturated fat = plant fat —> double bond
36
Q

Why are plant fats in our diet better for us than animal fats?

A

Correlation good health with unsaturated fats

37
Q

Phospholipid structure?

A
  • Glycerol, phosphate group, charged/polar group + 2 fatty acids
  • Polar head = hydrophilic
  • Nonpolar tail = hydrophobic
38
Q

Phospholipid function?

A

Phospholipid bilayers makes up biological membranes and form compartments
- Water filled compartments within a water-world

39
Q

Two types of phospholipids?

A
  1. Lipid micelles: in circle with hydrophilic heads that interact with water & hydrophobic tails that interact with one another
  2. Lipid bilayers: in layers with hydrophilic heads that interact with water & hydrophobic tails that interact with one another
40
Q

Steroid structure?

A

Carbon skeleton consisting of 4 fused rings —> Nonpolar (hydrophobic)
+ Polar (hydrophilic) R group
==> Amphipathic

41
Q

What is cholesterol (not a hormone)?

A

Important component of animal cell membranes

Acts as starting point to make other steroids

42
Q

What are important cell-to-cell communication steroids called?

A

Hormones

General Biology I (19 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions