Principles of Biochemistry

Question 1

What is Biochemistry?

Answer 1

Studies structure, composition, and chemical reactions of substances in living systems at cellular and molecular levels.

Biochemistry includes:
Toxicology, Molecular biology, Physiology, Crystallography, Medicine, Genetics, Biotechnology, Immunology, Cell biology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology

Question 2

What are the applied sciences of Biochemistry?

Answer 2

Environmental Science, Biotechnology, Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals, Clinical diagnostics (detect and diagnose diseases) and commercial products (day to day health products)

Question 3

What are the bulk elements?

Answer 3

C, N, O, H, P, S

Question 4

What are elements also known as?

Answer 4

Star dusts

Question 5

What is the Chief element?

Answer 5

Carbon

Question 6

Why is Carbon the chief element?

Answer 6

Can make many chemical bonds (single, double, etc) and can make many different combination of molecules

Question 7

What are the levels of structural organization?

Answer 7

These levels can be reversed (–> and

Question 8

What is the Organizational Hierarchy of Biochemsitry?

Answer 8

From lowest complexity to highest complexity:

1. Elements and functional groups: C, N, O , H, CH2, etc.
2. Biomolecules: amino acids, nucleotides, simple sugars, fatty acids.
3. Macromolecules: proteins, DNA/RNA, carbohydrates
4. Metabolism: glycolysis, citrate cycle, B - oxidation, urea cycle
5. Cells: cell wall, plasma membrane, organelles.
6. Organisms: trees, mammals, fish, birds, insects.
7. Ecosystems: rivers, islands forests, deserts.