Unit 1

Question 1

What is the plausible evolutionary scenario for enzymes assisting in lowering activation energies?

Answer 1

Naturally occurring metallic ions and complexes were catalyst for metabolic reactions, metallic co-factors appeared at the active sites of enzymes of ancient cells (metal ions helped enzymes), and recent enzymes only use amino acids in active sites

Question 2

Criteria for metabolic reactions

Answer 2

Reactants are available in environment and thermodynamic constraints (energy is conserved, negative Gibbs free energy, may need ATP, releases heat, and may need enzymes)

Question 3

How did life spontaneously organize?

Answer 3

1. Membrane formation
2. Protein folding

Question 5

Key properties of an information system?

Answer 5

Stability, fidelity, redundancy, entropy

Question 6

Stability (information systems)

Answer 6

constant information content

Question 7

Fidelity (information systems)

Answer 7

Accuracy of the information being read