Organisation Flashcards
What are the basic building blocks of life?
Cells
What is a tissue?
A group of cells with a similar structure and function.
What is an organ?
A group of different tissues working together to carry out a function.
What is an organ system?
A group of organs working together to carry out a function.
What is an organism?
A living thing made of organ systems working together.
What is the digestive system?
An organ system which works to digest food and absorb the nutrients into the bloodstream.
What are enzymes?
Catalysts, made of protein that speed up reactions.
How do enzymes work?
In the digestive system enzymes break down large molecules into small soluble ones.
What is the ‘lock and key’ theory?
A simple model that shows enzymes as a lock, where only a substrate with the correct shape (key) will bind.
What does optimum mean?
The temperature or pH that allows the enzyme to work at its fastest rate.
What does denature mean?
If the shape of the active site changes, no substrate can bind. The enzyme can no longer work when its active site is denatured.
What can denature an enzyme active site?
Temperatures that are too high and extreme pH can both make the active site change shape and become denatured. This is permanent.
Can low temperatures denature enzymes?
No, the enzyme will not change shape if cold but has low kinetic energy so there will be a slower rate of reaction. This is reversible.
What are the enzymes in digestion?
Amylase (and other carbohydrases), protease and lipase.
What does amylase do?
It is a carbohydrase that breaks down starch into sugars. It is produced in the salivary glands (in the mouth).
What do proteases do?
Break down proteins into amino acids. They are produced in the stomach and pancreas.
What do lipases do?
Break down lipids (fats and oils) into fatty acids and glycerol. They are produced in the small intestine.
What do carbohydrases do?
Break down sugars into glucose. Amylase is a type of carbohydrase, but there are others in the small intestine too.
Why do we need to digest foods?
Only small soluble molecules can enter the bloodstream. Enzymes break large molecules into molecules small enough to be soluble.
What do we do with the digested products?
Cells build new proteins, carbohydrates and lipids with the molecules we have digested. Some glucose is used in respiration too.
What other chemicals are in the digestive system?
Hydrochloric acid is found in the stomach. Bile (made in the liver and stored in the gall bladder) is found in the small intestine.
What does hydrochloric acid do?
Kills some bacteria on the food we ate. Also provides the optimum pH for stomach enzymes (proteases) to work at a fast rate.
What does bile do?
Bile is alkaline, so neutralises hydrochloric acid. Also it emulsifies fat droplets, giving a larger surface area for lipase enzymes to work.
What is a qualitative food test?
A test that shows if a substance is there or not. A qualitative test doesn’t give a measurement result, just a change of colour.