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BIOLOGY SL IBDP > TOPIC 2 - MOLECULAR BIOLOGY > Flashcards

TOPIC 2 - MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Flashcards

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1
Q

What is molecular biology?

A

Molecular biology explains these biological processes in terms of the chemical substances (molecules) involved

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2
Q

What is metabolism? (2)

A

Metabolism describes the totality of chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life • It is the web of all enzyme–catalysed reactions that occur within a particular cell or organism

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3
Q

What are organic compounds? (2)

A

Organic compounds are molecules that contain carbon and are found in living things
• Exceptions include carbonates and oxides of carbon

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4
Q

What are carbon atoms? (2)

A

Carbon atoms form the basis of organic life due to their capacity to form four covalent bonds
• This allows a diversity of stable compounds to exist

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5
Q

What are the 4 main groups of organic compounds in cells:

A
  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Proteins
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6
Q

Definition of Anabolism: (3)

A
  • The synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones
  • Involves condensation reactions (water is produced)
  • An example of an anabolic reaction is photosynthesis
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7
Q

Definition of catabolism: (3)

A
  • The break down of complex molecules into simpler ones
  • Involves hydrolysis reactions (water is consumed)
  • An example of a catabolic reaction is cellular respiratio
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8
Q

What is the, monomer and polymer of carbohydrates?

A

Monomer: monosaccharide
Polymer: polysaccharide

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9
Q

What is the, monomer and polymer of proteins?

A

Monomer: Amino Acid
Polymer: Polypeptide

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10
Q

What is the, monomer and polymer of lipids?

A

Lipids are not composed of repeating monomers, but may contain smaller subunits (e.g. triglycerides).

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11
Q

What is the, monomer and polymer of nucleic acids?

A

Monomer: Nucleotide
Polymer: DNA/RNA

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12
Q

What is the theory of vitalism? (2)

A

Vitalism was a doctrine that dictated that organic molecules could only be synthesized by living systems
• Living organisms were thought to possess a “vital force” that was required to manufacture organic compounds.

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13
Q

Falsification of vitalism? (2)

A

In 1828, Frederick Woehler disproved the theory of vitalism by artificially synthesizing an organic molecule
• He heated an inorganic salt (ammonium cyanate) under laboratory conditions to produce urea (organic)

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14
Q

Structure of water: (2)

A

Water is made up of two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to an oxygen atom (molecular formula: H2O)

Oxygen has a higher electronegativity and attracts the shared electrons more strongly, resulting in polarity

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15
Q

Why does hydrogen bonding occur in water? (2)

A

The dipolarity of the water molecule enables it to form polar associations with other charged molecules (polar or ionic)

Water molecules can also form hydrogen bonds with other water molecules (between an δ+ hydrogen and an δ– oxygen)

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16
Q

What are the 3 main properties of water?

A

Thermal properties
Cohesive properties
Solvent properties

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17
Q

Cohesive properties in water: (3)

A

Water can form intermolecular associations with other molecules that share common properties (e.g. polarity)
• Water can form hydrogen bonds with other water molecules (cohesion: like molecules stick together)
• Water can form polar associations with charged molecules (adhesion: unlike molecules stick together)

18
Q

What does cohesive properties in water result to?

A

The cohesive properties of water results in a relatively high surface tension (can resist low level external forces)

19
Q

What does adhesive properties in water result to?

A

The cohesive properties of water results in a relatively high surface tension (can resist low level external forces)

20
Q

Solvent properties in water: (2)

A

Water is commonly referred to as the universal solvent due to its capacity to dissolve a large number of substances (ionic / polar)
• Largequantitiesofwatermoleculescansufficientlyweaken
forces (e.g. ionic bonds) and form dispersive hydration shells

21
Q

What does solvent properties in water result to?

A

These solvent properties make water an important medium for metabolic reactions, as well as a necessary transport medium

22
Q

Thermal properties in water: (6)

A

Water has the capacity to absorb large amounts of heat energy before undergoing a resultant change in state
• Extensivehydrogenbondingmustfirstbebroken
Water therefore has a very high specific heat capacity
• Energy required to raise temperature of 1g by 1oC
These properties make water a very effective coolant
• Evaporation of sweat requires absorption of heat

23
Q

Water vs Methane: (2)

A
  • Water and methane differ in thermal properties despite having similar structures (comparable weight, size, valence structure)
  • The differences are due to the polarity of water and its capacity to form intermolecular hydrogen bonds
24
Q

Is methane polar or non polar?

A

Non polar

25
Q

What are monosaccharides? (2)

A

The monomer of a carbohydrate is called a monosaccharide

• Monosaccharides primarily function as an energy source

26
Q

What are polysaccharides?

A

Monosaccharides are covalently joined by glycosidic linkages to form polymers (requires condensation reactions)

27
Q

What are the 3 types of polysaccharides?

A

Cellulose
Starch
Glycogen

28
Q

Comparison of lipids and carbohydrates as sources of energy: (SODAS)

A 
Carbohydrates:
Storage - Short Term 
Osmolarity - More Effect
Digestion - Easier to digest
ATP Yield - Smaller
Solubility - Soluble 
Lipids:
Storage - Long term
Osmolarity - Less effect
Digestion - Harder to Digest
ATP Yield - Larger
Solubility - Insoluble to Water
29
Q

How to calculate BMI:

A

• BMI = Mass in kg ÷ (Height in m)2

30
Q

2 examples of monosaccharides:

A

Glucose and ribose

31
Q

What are polysaccharides used for? (3)

A
  • Short term energy storage (e.g. glycogen, starch)
  • Structural components (e.g. cellulose)
  • Recognition / receptors (e.g. glycoproteins)
32
Q

What are functions lipids: (SHIPS)

A
  • Storage of energy (triglycerides)
  • Hormonal roles (steroids)
  • Insulation (thermal)
  • Protection of organs
  • Structural roles (cholesterol)
33
Q

What are lipids:

A

Lipids are a class of non-polar organic molecules

34
Q

What are triglycerides? (2)

A
  • Triglycerides are lipids used for long-term energy storage

- They are composed of a glycerol molecule covalently linked to three fatty acid chains (via condensation reactions)

35
Q

What are fatty acids? (2)

A

Fatty acids are long hydrocarbon chains found in certain lipids
• Principally found in triglycerides and phospholipids

36
Q

What are the two main types of fatty acids?

A
  • Saturated

* Unsaturated

37
Q

What are the two distance configurations that Unsaturated fatty acids occur in?

A
  • Cis

- Trans

38
Q

Lipid Health risks: (3)

A
  • Fats and cholesterol cannot dissolve in the blood and so are packaged with proteins (as lipoproteins) for transport
  • Fatty acids can influence the levels of lipoproteins
  • High levels of blood cholesterol can cause atherosclerosis and lead to health issues like coronary heart disease (CHD)
39
Q

What are amino acids? (4)

A

The monomer of a protein is called an amino acid
• Amino acids are linked together to form polypeptides

There are 20 different amino acids that form polypeptides
• These can be linked in any sequence to create variation

40
Q

What are peptide bonds?

A
  • Amino acids are covalently joined by peptide bonds to form polypeptide chains (requires condensation reactions)
  • The sequence of amino acids is encoded by genes and the assembly of a polypeptide chain occurs at the ribosome

BIOLOGY SL IBDP (3 decks)

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