Life at the Cellular Level Flashcards
What are the mitochondria?
The powerhouse of the cell.
Define metabolism.
The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.
Define catabolism.
The breakdown of complex molecules in living organisms to form simpler ones, together with the release of energy.
- i.e. destructive metabolism
Define anabolism.
The synthesis of complex molecules in living organisms from simpler ones together with the storage of energy.
- i.e. constructive metabolism
What are the two forms of chiral centre carbon?
L (Laevo = left handed) and D (Dextro = right handed)
What are the 5 chemical reactions of life?
- Redox reactions
- Making and breaking C-C bonds
- Internal rearrangements
- Group transfers
- Condensation and hydrolysis reactions
Is oxidation loss or gain of electrons?
Oxidation Is Loss, Reduction Is Gain = OIL RIG
Is reduction loss or gain of electrons?
Oxidation Is Loss, Reduction Is Gain = OIL RIG
Which bases are known as pyrimidines?
Cytosine (C), Thymine (T) and Uracil (U)
Which bases are known as purines?
Adenine (A) and Guanine (G)
What makes up a nucleoside?
base + ribose (RNA) or deoxyribose (DNA) sugar
What makes up a nucleotide?
nucleoside (base + ribose (RNA) or deoxyribose (DNA) sugar) + phosphate
What are polysaccharides? What kind of bonds do they contain?
Polymers of sugar monomers linked by glycosidic bonds
What is the first law of thermodynamics?
Energy can be converted from one form to another, but the total energy of the universe remains constant
What is the second law of thermodynamics?
All energy transformations ultimately lead to more disorder in the universe, i.e. increase the entropy
