y3.1: biological molecules 🥞 Flashcards

1
Q

what is a polymer?

A

a large molecule composed of many repeated subunits

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2
Q

functions of fats (episode 1)

A
  • lightweight energy storage: one gram of triglyceride yields about twice as much energy as one gram of carbohydrates; triglyceride has about half the mass of carbohydrates for an equivalent amount of energy stored (used by animals that move by speed or flight + seeds dispersed by wind or insects)
  • energy store in cold climate: during hibernation / when it is difficult to hunt for food
  • heat insulator: fats conduct heat slowly, adipose cells form adipose tissue under skin
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3
Q

functions of fats (episode 2)

A
  • buoyant: fats are less dense than water, give buoyancy and heat insulation to aquatic animals
  • absorb shock: act as a protective layer around vital organs
  • oxidation of triglycerides produces metabolic water: triglycerides release twice as much water as carbohydrates when oxidised during respiration (fats contain more hydrogen atoms); important for animals that live in the dry, hot desert where water is scarce.
  • as a solvent: for fat-soluble vitamins and hormones
  • insulating component of myelin sheath: allow rapid transmission of electrical impulses
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4
Q

functions of proteins

A
  • used in the synthesis of new cells; growth and repair of worn-out cells
  • biological catalysts: enzymes
  • chemical messengers: hormones
  • transport proteins: haemoglobin
  • structural protein: keratin for hair and nails
  • defence of body: antibodies
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5
Q

what is hydrolysis?

A

hydrolysis is the splitting up of a complex molecule into its component units with the addition of water

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6
Q

why are starch and glycogen suitable as storage materials?

A
  • insoluble in water so they dont affect cell water potential
  • macromolecules hence they are unable to diffuse through cell membrane out of the cell
  • compact shapes which occupy less space than individual glucose molecules
  • easily hydrolysed to glucose when needed
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7
Q

delete

A
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8
Q

what are nutrients?

A

chemical substances in food that provide energy and materials needed by the body

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9
Q

functions of water

A
  • required for hydrolysis (addition of water molecules to split up complex molecules)
  • transport of dissolved substances
  • photosynthesis
  • regulation of body temperature (removal of latent heat of vapourisation)
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10
Q

what is condensation reaction?

A

condensation is a chemical reaction whereby two or more simple molecules are joined togeether to form a larger molecule with the removal of water

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11
Q

structure of carbohydrates

A
  • consist of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
  • hydrogen and oxygen atoms are in the ratio 2:1
  • contain glycosidic bonds
  • glucose -> maltose -> starc
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12
Q

building blocks of maltose

A

glucose + glucose

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13
Q

building blocks of lactose

A

glucose + galactose

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14
Q

building blocks of sucrose

A

glucose + fructose

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15
Q

structure of lipids

A
  • consist of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
  • ratio of hydrogen to oxygen is not fixed
  • contain ester bonds (O-C=O)
  • consist of one molecule of glycerol and three molecules of fatty acids (triglyceride)
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16
Q

fatty acids saturated vs unsaturated

A

saturated: lack of carbon-carbon double bonds (solids at rtp)
unsaturated: one or more carbon-carbon double bonds (liquids at rtp, healthy)

17
Q

structure of proteins

A
  • consist of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen
  • no fixed ratio of hydrogen and oxygen atoms
  • contain peptide bonds (have unique 3 dimensional shapes)
  • amino acids -> polypeptide -> protein
18
Q

structure of amino acid

A
  • at least one amino group (NH2) which joins to carboxyl group of another amino acid to form peptide bond (OCNH)
  • a carboxyl group (-COOH)
  • a hydrogen atom
  • a variable group, the R group
19
Q

bonds in a protein structure

A
  • peptide bonds
  • disulfide bonds
  • hydrogen bonds
  • ionic bonds
  • hydrophobic bonds (impt for folding)
20
Q

functions of carbohydrates

A

glucose: as a substrate for respiration, to release energy for all cell activities
cellulose: to form supporitng structure (cell walls in plants)
deoxyribose sugar: used in formation of DNA
lubricants: mucus

21
Q

functions of proteins

A
  • used in the synthesis of new cells; growth and repair of worn-out cells
  • biological catalysts: enzymes
  • chemical messengers: hormones
  • transport proteins: haemoglobin
  • structural protein: keratin for hair and nails
  • defence of body: antibodies