bio Flashcards
(152 cards)
explain the formation of hydrogen between water and other polar molecules
hydrogen bonds form between hydrogen and a strongly electronegative element such as oxygen. in water hydrogen bonding helps to hold the water molecules together making it a stable substance
why does methane have a lower boiling point than water
because methane does not have any hydrogen bonds, weakly held together.
use an example: how are hydrophobic/philic molecules transported in blood
Hydrophilic molecules, which are attracted to water, require transport proteins to help them cross the cell membrane. Hydrophobic molecules, which repel water, can directly diffuse through the membrane via passive transport. Both types of molecules rely on the membrane’s selective permeability.
why is amylopectin, even though similar to glycogen, less soluble?
more 1-6 glycosidic bonds in glycogen, more branching, more surface area to interact between molecules of water and glycogen, more solubility
what makes the amino acids in proteins unique
r group
define primary secondary tertiary quaternary structure
primary - sequence of amino acids in polypeptide chain
secondary - formation of α-helices and β-pleated sheets stabilised by hydrogen bonding. The secondary structure is the way a polypeptide folds in a repeating arrangement to form α-helices and β-pleated sheets
tertiary - tertiary structure is the further folding of the polypeptide stabilised by interactions between R groups
The tertiary structure is the way the polypeptide chain coils and turns to form a complex molecular shape (i.e. the 3D shape)
It is caused by interactions between R groups; including H-bonds, disulfide bridges, ionic bonds and hydrophobic interactions
quaternery - the quaternary structure exists in proteins with more than one polypeptide chain
Which layer of the veins and arteries contains the muscle and elastic fibres?
Tunica media
Which type of cell secretes mucus into the lumen of the small intestine to facilitate the movement of the chyme?
Goblet cell
State the name of the molecule that CDKs attach to proteins in order to activate them.
phosphate group
define detritivore
Detritivores are a type of heterotroph, or organisms that consume dead and decaying organic matter known as detritus to obtain energy and nutrition.
define saprotroph
Saprotrophs are heterotrophs that obtain their organic nutrients from dead organisms by external digestion.
Saprotrophs are heterotrophs that ingest the tissues of dead organisms and waste material by secreting enzymes onto their food and digesting it externally before absorbing the products of this digestion. .
define autotroph
Autotrophs make use of abiotic factors to produce their own food.
what is nutrient cycling
The nutrient cycle is a system where energy and matter are transferred between living organisms and non-living parts of the environment. This occurs as animals and plants consume nutrients found in the soil, and these nutrients are then released back into the environment via death and decomposition.
whats reproductive isolation
Reproductive isolation of populations can be temporal, behavioural or geographic. Reproductive isolation occurs when barriers prevent two populations from interbreeding – keeping their gene pools separate.
what are abiotic factors
An abiotic factor is a non-living part of an ecosystem that shapes its environment. In a terrestrial ecosystem, examples might include temperature, light, and water.
what is speciation
formation of a new species from an original, ancestral lineage
how can reproductive isolation lead to speciation
reproductive isolation is when two or more populations of the same species are prevented from interbreeding. if the populations never interbreed then gene mixing between the populations stops and evolutionary forces such as natural selection may act differently on the populations. over time the populations may change to the point of not being able to interbreed and produce viable fertile offspring in which the case they would now be considered seperate species
how does the ocean become more acidic
Typically, when carbon dioxide is dissolved in the ocean, it combines with water molecules to form carbonic acid (H2CO3)
The carbonic acid then dissociates to form bicarbonate ions (HCO3–) and hydrogen ions (H+)
The ocean also contains carbonate ions (CO3–), which are absorbed by coral and molluscs to form calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
Calcium carbonate is used to form the hard exoskeletons of reef-building corals and is used by molluscs to develop shells
H+ ions can reduce the stock of carbonate ions in the ocean by combining with it to form bicarbonate
Hence, the levels of H+ ions must be kept low to ensure that their is sufficient stock of carbonate ions for aquatic organisms
As a result of deforestation and the increased burning of fossil fuels, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have increased
With more CO2 being absorbed by the oceans, there is an associated increase in the production of H+ ions
These H+ ions lower the pH of the ocean, causing acidification (ocean pH has dropped ~0.2 since the industrial revolution)
The H+ ions will also combine with carbonate ions, reducing the amounts available to marine organisms
This will result in the formation of thinner, deformed shells and reduce the population numbers of reef-building corals
The reduction in pH will also dissolve calcium carbonate structures, enhancing the damage to shells and corals
Autotrophs absorb both dissolved carbon dioxide and hydrogen carbonate ions and use them to produce organic compounds
how is calcium carbornate and limestone created
When the hydrogen carbonate ions come into contact with the rocks and sediments on the ocean floor, they acquire metal ions
This commonly results in the formation of calcium carbonate and the subsequent development of limestone
Living animals may also combine the hydrogen carbonate ions with calcium to form calcium carbonate
This calcium carbonate forms the hardened exoskeleton of coral, as well as forming the main component of mollusca shells
When the organism dies and settles to the sea floor, these hard components may become fossilised in the limestone
how is methane produced
Methane is produced from organic matter in anaerobic conditions by methanogenic archaeans and some diffuses into the atmosphere or accumulates in the ground
what are methanogens
Methanogens are archaean microorganisms that produce methane (CH4) as a metabolic by-product in anaerobic conditions
what are anaerobic conditions
Wetlands (e.g. swamps and marshes)
Marine sediments (e.g. in the mud of lake beds)
Digestive tract of ruminant animals (e.g. cows, sheep, goats
why is the methane level in atmosphere not very large even though it has significant quantity
The lifetime of methane gas once it reaches the atmosphere is around 10-12 years · This is because methane is oxidised in the atmosphere.
what determines the impact of a gas in the atmosphere
The impact of a gas depends on its ability to absorb long-wave radiation as well as its concentration within the atmosphere
- Ability to absorb long-wave radiation
Gases that have a greater capacity to absorb long-wave radiation will have a greater warming impact (per molecule)
- Concentration within the atmosphere
The greater the concentration of a gas, the greater its warming impact will be within the atmosphere
The concentration of a gas will be determined by both its rate of release and persistence within the atmosphere
The overall impact of a greenhouse gas will be determined by the combination of both these factors
Methane has a larger capacity to absorb long-wave radiation than carbon dioxide, but is significantly less abundant
Water vapour enters the atmosphere rapidly but only remains for short periods, while carbon dioxide persists for years
Human activity is increasing the amount of greenhouse gases (except water vapour) and hence increasing their impact