Bio. 4.1: How biological molecules are essential for survival
Bio. 4.1.1: Compare structures/functions of the major biological molecules
The four major molecules are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Carbohydrates :
Carbohydrates are large compounds, also known as a macromolecule, made up of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen atoms. A carbohydrate is divided into 4 groups: monosaccharaides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. Carbohydrates are shaped like an open chain, and serve as a temporary energy storage.
Lipids :
Lipids are groups of naturally occurring insoluble molecules that store energy and are structural components of cell membranes. They consist of a long "chain" full of carbons at one end, and are either saturated or unsaturated.
Proteins :
Proteins are polymers made up of amino acids, otherwise known as monomer. Some proteins are rigid, or rough, while others are pretty "flexible". Proteins are extremely broad, and they have different functions. They either fight off other germs, structurally support the cell, or involved in some type of bodily movement.
Nucleic Acids :
Nucleic acids are well known for DNA and RNA. Nucleic acids allow genetic information to be carried from one generation to the next. It is made up of a nitrogen base, a five carbon sugar, and a phosphate group.
The virtual lab below deals with a daily menu full of carbohydrates.
Virtual Lab Link: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs_2K8/labs/BL_15/
Carbohydrates :
Carbohydrates are large compounds, also known as a macromolecule, made up of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen atoms. A carbohydrate is divided into 4 groups: monosaccharaides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. Carbohydrates are shaped like an open chain, and serve as a temporary energy storage.
Lipids :
Lipids are groups of naturally occurring insoluble molecules that store energy and are structural components of cell membranes. They consist of a long "chain" full of carbons at one end, and are either saturated or unsaturated.
Proteins :
Proteins are polymers made up of amino acids, otherwise known as monomer. Some proteins are rigid, or rough, while others are pretty "flexible". Proteins are extremely broad, and they have different functions. They either fight off other germs, structurally support the cell, or involved in some type of bodily movement.
Nucleic Acids :
Nucleic acids are well known for DNA and RNA. Nucleic acids allow genetic information to be carried from one generation to the next. It is made up of a nitrogen base, a five carbon sugar, and a phosphate group.
The virtual lab below deals with a daily menu full of carbohydrates.
Virtual Lab Link: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs_2K8/labs/BL_15/
Bio. 4.1.2: Relationship among DNA, proteins and amino acids
When a cell decides that it wants to make a new protein, it has to go through the instructions before anything. The instructions are DNA., and DNA has 4 base molecules; adenine, thymine guanine, and cytosine. The cell goes through three different processes in order to make a new protein. The first is replication. Replication is the product of two twin copies from one DNA molecule. DNA polymerases, or a group of enzymes, carry out all of the forms of DNA replication. Transcription is when RNA is made from DNA. The DNA sequence is duplicated by RNA polymerase to make a matching strand of RNA. The process of transcription actually replaces thymine with Uracil, turning the sequences into adenine, uracil, guanine, and cytosine. If the gene that was transcribes codes for a protein, the product of the transcription is messenger RNA, or mRNA. The last step is translation, which is when the proteins are created by cellular ribosomes. During the process of translation, the mRNA that was created in transcription is decoded by a ribosome complex to create a specific polypeptide, or amino acid chain, that is folded into a protein.
Virtual Lab Link: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_26/BL_26.html
Virtual Lab Link: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_26/BL_26.html
Bio. 4.1.3: How enzymes act as catalysts for biological reactions
Enzymes are large molecules that are the base of thousands of metabolic processes that are meant to sustain life.
Enzymes are known as catalysts, and are able to increase the rate of a reaction between 10 and 20 million times what the speed of a normal reaction would be. An enzyme can act as a catalyst to specific chemical reactions and substances. The compound has to be "unlocked" by a key, a key being the enzyme. The enzyme has to have a specific shape in order to fit the substrate Once they attach and become one, the enzyme is able to act as a catalyst.
The majority of all biochemical processes and reactions need enzymes in order to function.
The equation of an enzyme reaction:
Substrate + Enzyme –> Substrate: Enzyme –> Product: Enzyme –> Product + Enzyme
Some enzymes can encourage the pre-digestion of specific complex nutrients, and make the release of high digestible nutrients easier.
When an enzyme acts as a catalyst, it's actually lowering the activation energy, which in return, speeds up the entire rate of the biological reaction.
Virtual Lab Link: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_11/BL_11.html
Enzymes are known as catalysts, and are able to increase the rate of a reaction between 10 and 20 million times what the speed of a normal reaction would be. An enzyme can act as a catalyst to specific chemical reactions and substances. The compound has to be "unlocked" by a key, a key being the enzyme. The enzyme has to have a specific shape in order to fit the substrate Once they attach and become one, the enzyme is able to act as a catalyst.
The majority of all biochemical processes and reactions need enzymes in order to function.
The equation of an enzyme reaction:
Substrate + Enzyme –> Substrate: Enzyme –> Product: Enzyme –> Product + Enzyme
Some enzymes can encourage the pre-digestion of specific complex nutrients, and make the release of high digestible nutrients easier.
When an enzyme acts as a catalyst, it's actually lowering the activation energy, which in return, speeds up the entire rate of the biological reaction.
Virtual Lab Link: http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/virtual_labs/BL_11/BL_11.html