"I was just wondering when you for example ask us, describe the physical foundations of biochemistry what sort of response are you expecting to see from us, as I am a little bit confused as to how we should answer this type of question. If you could please give me a precise and simple way that is easy to learn that would be very much appreciated." RESPONSE: As mentioned in the lectures, to answer any of the 'What is Expected of You?' questions, I simply expect that you use the information provided in the lecture notes and verbalised during the lecture.
For example, to describe the Physical Foundations of Biochemistry, I would be looking for the material provided on slides 5-12 of Lecture 2 and/or mentioned during Lecture 2. Specifically:-
(a) Physical foundations of biochemistry relate to ENERGY of a closed system (e.g. a biochemical cell)
(b) That the change in Free Energy (deltaG) is dependent on the change in enthalpy (deltaH), the absolute temperature (in Kelvin) and the change in entropy (deltaS) - i.e. deltaG = deltaH - T.deltaS
(c) That the change in Free Energy is proportional to the equilibrium constant for a reaction (i.e. deltaG0' = -RT.lnK)
(d) When delta G = 0, the reaction is freely reversible.
(e) When delta G > 0, the reaction is unfavourable.
(f) When delta G < 0, the reaction is favourable
(g) Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the major energy source of a cell, with -30.5 kJ/mol of energy generated upon cleavage of the phosphodiester bond
