Molecules of Life Flashcards
What is digestion an example of?
decomposition
What happens in decomposition?
Molevules are broken down into smaller units.
What is muscle tissue formation an example of?
Synthesis
What happens in synthesis?
Molecules are built up from smaller parts.
What are blood sugar levels an example of?
Both synthesis and decomposition.
What happens when synthesis and decomposition act together?
The two processes act to keep the level of glucose in the blood at a constant level.
What is glucose?
A sugar that we use for energy. If its levels get too high or too low, it’s harmful to us.
What is glycogen?
A sugar that acts as a storage compound. It is easily converted to glucose.
What happens if glucose levels in the blood drop?
Glycogen is decomposed to form glucose.
What happens if glucose levels in the blood rise?
Glycogen is synthesized to decrease the amount of glucose.
What is the regulation of a certain level known as?
Homeostasis
Synthesis and decomposition: which is endothermic and which is exothermic?
Synthesis=endothermic
Decomposition=exothermic
Which is decomposition and which is synthesis: dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis.
Synthesis: dehydration synthesis
Decomposition: Hydrolysis
List the 3 macromolecules of life?
1) Carbohydrates
2) Proteins
3) Lipids
What are carbohydrates an important source of?
Energy
What source of energy does the body prefer?
Carbohydrates
What atoms are all carbohydrates made up of?
Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
1:2:1 ratio
How many groups of carbohydrates are there? Name them.
- 3
- monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.
What does monosaccharide mean?
What are the three types? Explain each.
- 1 sugar
i) glucose (aka blood sugar)-6 sided polygon
ii) fructose (aka fruit sugar)-five sided polygon
iii) galactose-6 sided polygon
What does disaccharide mean?
How are disaccharides formed?
What are the names of the disaccharides. Explain each.
- 2 sugars
- formed chemically by the joining of two momosaccharide molecules through dehydration synthesis.
i) sucrose (aka table sugar) glucose+fructose
ii) lactose (aka milk sugar) galactose+glucose
iii) maltose (produced during bread/beer making) glucose+glucose
What does polysaccharide mean?
How are polysaccharides formed?
What are the names of the polysaccharides? Explain each.
- many sugars
- are polymers of a few hundred to a few thousand monosaccharides linked together by dehydration synthesis
i) starch (plant storage)
ii) glycogen (animal storage)
iii) cellulose (plant fibre)
iv) chitin (found inprotective exoskeletons of arthropods)
What may polysaccharides split to form? What is this called and why?
- monosaccharides
- called hydrolysis reaction because a water is split and consumed
How many classes of proteins are there. List please.
- 7
1) Structural- are fibrous, stringy and provide support. Ex. keratin strengthens protective coverings such as hair, quills, feathers, horns, and beaks.
2) Contractile- are responsible for muscel contraction and movement.
3) Storage- store amino acids. Found in egg whites and milk.
4) Defense- antibodies are specialized proteins involved in defending the body from antigens
5) Transport- are carrier proteins which move molecules from one place to another around the body.
6) Signal- are messenger proteins which help to coordinate certain bodily activities
7) Enzymes- facilitate biochemical reactions, often referred to aas catalysts because they speed up chemical reactions.
What elements does protein contain?
carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen along with nitrogen and sometimes sulpher and phosphorus.
What is a protein? Organic or manmade?
Organic
What is a protein composed of?
One or more chains of polypeptides.
What are polypeptides formed from?
20 varying arrangements of amino acids.
What are amino acids joined by?
Special bonds called peptide bonds.
How do peptide bonds occur?
dehydration synthesis
amino acid + amino acid=
dipeptide
chain of amino acids=
polypeptide
What happens when a polypeptide is modified (often twisted) to its working structure?
It is then called a protein.
How many amino acids long can protein molecules be? What do many assume?
100-10000 amino acids long.
They assume a variety of different shapes.
What are lipids used as? (4)
A source of energy, as long term storage, for making cell membranes and hormones in the body and for bringing in certain vitamins that are fat soluble.
How much more energy does one gram of lipids contain than carbohydrates?
Over twice as much.
How does the body sotre its energy reserves?
Fat rather than carbohydrates.
What are the three different groups of lipids?
1) Fats/Oils
2) Waxes
3) Steroids
How many different molecules are fats/oils made from? What are they? Explain.
- 2
1) glycerol- can be made in our cells
2) fatty acids- long chain of carbon surrounded by hodrogen. We obtain these from the food we eat.
How many fatty acid chains are connected to one glycerol molecule?
3
What are fats catagorized by?
The bonds between teh carbon molecules in their fatty acid chains.
What kind of bonds do saturated fats have?
single carbon bonds (C-C)
What are saturated fats said to be “saturated” with?
Hydrogen atoms
Are carbon bonds in saturated fats weak or strong?
Strong and hard to break down.
What are examples of food made with saturated fat. Are they liquid or solid at room temperature?
- Solid at room temperature
- buttuer, lard, and bacon. Maybe cream.
What kind of a bond does monounsaturated fats have?
One double bond betweentwo carbons (C=C) in the chain of fatty acids.
Does monounsaturated fats have more or less carbon than saturated fat?
less hydrogen’s present.
Are monounsaturated fats said to be saturated or unsaturated with hydrogen atoms?
unsaturated
Are monounsaturated fats liquid or solid at room temperature? Give examples of food.
- liquid fats at room temperature
- avocado, oil, and canola oil
What are polyunsaturaed fats characterized by?
More than one double bond between two carbons (C=C-C=C) in the chain of fatty acids.
Which has the least amount of oxygen. (order from least to greatest)
polyunsaturated–>monounsaturated–>saturated
Are polyunsaturated fats liquid or solid at room temperature? Give examples.
- liquid fats at room temperature
- soy bean and fishoil
What are waxes?
Long-chained fatty acids comnined iwth long-chained alcohols create insoluble molecules, which act as a waterproof coating for leafs, feathers, and fur.
What are steroids (structure and function)?
- Four linked rings of carbon atoms
- Functions include chemical messengers (hormones), digestions (bile acids), and cell membrane structure (cholesterol).
