Nutrition part 1 Flashcards
identify the 4 classes of organic macronutriets: carbs, lipids, protein, and nucleic acids
Carbohydrates:
Primarily function as a source of readily available energy, often found in sugars and starches.
Lipids:
Store long-term energy, provide insulation, and are components of cell membranes (including fats, oils, and phospholipids).
Proteins:
Essential for structure, function, and regulation within the body, composed of amino acids.
Nucleic acids:
Carry genetic information within cells, including DNA and RNA, made up of nucleotides
distiguish between matter, mass, elements, and compounds
“Matter” refers to anything that occupies space and has mass, essentially “stuff” in the universe; “mass” is the quantity of matter in an object; “elements” are pure substances made up of only one type of atom, which cannot be broken down further chemically; and “compounds” are substances formed by combining two or more different elements through chemical bonds, meaning they can be broken down into their constituent elements.
describe the importance of chemical elements to living organisms
Chemical elements are crucial to living organisms because they serve as the building blocks for all biological molecules, forming the structures and facilitating the chemical reactions necessary for life, with the most important elements being carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur which together make up the majority of organic matter in living things
explain the formation of compounds
Compounds form when two or more different elements chemically react with each other, combining their atoms through chemical bonds to create a new substance with distinct properties; essentially, atoms of different elements join together by sharing or exchanging electrons, forming a stable structure known as a compound
distiguish between ionic, hydrogen, and covalent bonds
An ionic bond occurs when one atom completely transfers electrons to another, creating oppositely charged ions that attract each other; a covalent bond forms when atoms share electrons to achieve stability; and a hydrogen bond is a weaker interaction between molecules where a hydrogen atom already covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom is attracted to a lone pair on another electronegative atom, like oxygen or nitrogen, in a different molecule.
describe the functions of proteins
Proteins perform a wide range of functions in the body, including providing structural support, acting as enzymes to catalyze chemical reactions, transporting molecules, regulating cellular processes through hormones, aiding in immune response, and facilitating movement within cells and organisms; essentially, proteins are the “workhorses” of the body, carrying out almost every cellular task necessary for life
explain how proteins are made up of individual animo acids and how that relates to shape and function of the protein
Proteins are essentially chains of individual amino acids linked together, and the specific sequence of these amino acids, known as the primary structure, dictates how the protein folds into its unique three-dimensional shape, which in turn determines its function within the body; essentially, the order of amino acids defines the protein’s job by influencing its structure
explain what happens to the amino acids in the protein we consume
When we consume protein, it is broken down into individual amino acids during digestion in the stomach and small intestine by enzymes, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to the liver where they can be used to build new proteins for the body’s needs, or broken down further for energy if necessary; excess amino acids are processed by the liver to remove the nitrogen group and are excreted as urea in urine.
explain the needs for varied amino acid sources, and compare and contrast the pros and cons of different protein sources
A varied intake of amino acid sources is crucial because different protein sources contain varying ratios of essential amino acids, meaning that by consuming a diverse range of foods, you ensure your body receives all the necessary building blocks for protein synthesis; while some sources may be high in certain amino acids, others may be lacking, so a balanced diet across different protein types is key to optimal health.
find detailed and relevant nutitional info about specific amino acids in food
To find detailed nutritional information about specific amino acids in food, you can look at the protein content of various foods, with the key point being that all protein sources contain a combination of essential amino acids like: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine; with animal proteins generally considered the most complete source, while plant-based sources may require combining different foods to get all essential amino acids
describe the building blocks of cells, and why they are the fundamental units of life
The building blocks of cells are macromolecules like proteins, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), lipids, and carbohydrates, which combine to form the various organelles and structures within a cell, making it the smallest functional unit capable of carrying out all life processes, thus establishing the cell as the fundamental unit of life; essentially, all living organisms are composed of and function through cells, regardless of their complexity
define a chemical reaction and explain how it changes the composition matter
A chemical reaction is a process where one or more substances (reactants) are transformed into different substances (products) by breaking and forming new chemical bonds between atoms, resulting in a change in the composition of matter, meaning the original substances are no longer present and new ones with different properties are formed; the total number of atoms remains the same throughout the reaction.
describe what the statement “Form follow function” means
“Form follows function” means that the design or shape of an object, like a building or product, should be primarily determined by its intended purpose or function, essentially prioritizing practicality over purely aesthetic considerations; the form should naturally arise from what the object needs to do.
identify the structural heirachy of mammals
The structural hierarchy of mammals, from simplest to most complex, is: cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism; where cells make up tissues, tissues form organs, organs work together in organ systems, and the entire organism is a mammal made up of these organ systems.
