molecules to metabolism 2.1

Question 1

Define “molecular biology.”

Answer 1

Molecular biology is a field of study that focuses on investigating biological activity at a molecular level

Question 2

List the four major classes of carbon compounds used by living organisms.

Answer 2

carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.

Question 3

Compare the benefits of a reductionist vs. systems approach to studying biology.

Answer 3

Reduction = study of individual components
Systems = studies parts of the system in consideration of the whole.

Question 4

Define catalysis.

Answer 4

the acceleration of a chemical reaction by a catalyst.

Question 5

State the role of enzymes in metabolism.

Answer 5

catayze reactions by speeding up the rate of reaction by lowering the activiation enrergy.

Question 6

Define anabolism, monomer and polymer.

Answer 6

anabolism: simple molecules can be bound otgerther to form bigger molecules via condensation reaction.
monomer: single unit of a compound
polymer: multiple monomers

Question 7

Describe condensation (dehydration synthesis) reactions.

Answer 7

A chemical reaction where two monomers combine to form a polymer with the formation of water.

Question 8

Using simple shapes to represent monomers, diagram a condensation reaction.

Answer 8

see notion

Question 9

Define catabolism.

Answer 9

The breakdown of large molecules (polymers) into smaller subunits. (monomers) via hydrolysis

Question 10

Describe hydrolysis reactions.

Answer 10

A chemical reaction where a polymer breaks apart into smaller subunits. The addition of water is used to break bonds.

Question 11

Using simple shapes to represent monomers, diagram a hydrolysis reaction.

Answer 11

see notion

Question 12

Draw the molecular structure of urea.

Answer 12

see notion

Question 13

Draw the molecular diagram of ribose, alpha-glucose, a saturated fatty acid.

Answer 13

see notion

Question 14

Identify the carboxyl and methyl groups on a fatty acid.

Answer 14

see notion

Question 15

Draw the generalized structure of an amino acid. Label the amine group, carboxyl group, alpha carbon and R group on an amino acid.

Answer 15

see notion

Question 16

Identify the four major classes of carbon compounds used by living organisms from given diagrams (examples will include D-ribose, alpha glucose, beta glucose, trigylcerides, phospholipids and steroids).

Answer 16

see notion

Question 17

State the generalized chemical formula of the carbohydrates.

Answer 17

(CH2O)n

Question 18

Identify the following carbohydrates from molecular drawings: cellulose, glycogen, amylose starch and amylopectin starch.

Answer 18

see notion

Question 19

Compare the relative amount of oxygen atoms in lipids to the amount in carbohydrates.

Answer 19

in carbohydrates there is 1: 2 ratio of oxygen to hydrogen. ex. suagr, starch, cellulose.
Lipids have fewer oxygen compared to carbs.

Question 20

Identify the following lipids from molecular drawings: triglycerides, phospholipids and steroids.​

Answer 20

see notion

Question 21

Define vitalism.

Answer 21

A theory that organic molecules could only be synthesised by living things. It was believed that living things possessed a certain “vital force” needed to make organic molecules

Question 22

Explain the role of urea in the falsification of vitalism.

Answer 22

The artificial synthesis of urea demonstrates that organic molecules are not fundamentally different to inorganic molecules

Question 23

Describe how urea can be synthesized by living and artificial mechanisms.

Answer 23

In humans, the liver converts ammonia (NH3) to urea which is excreted from the body via the kidneys.

Question 24

outline the difference between glycogen, amylose and amylopectin?

Answer 24

amyolse forms single long chain (linear)
amylopectin branches out.
glyocogen is usualyy larger than amylopectin and is more branched.
starch is composed of amyolse and amylopectin whereas glucose is used as sugar.