Protein and Nucleic Acids Essay example

Submitted By Helenadala
Words: 1843
Pages: 8
Open Document
Helena Dalakouras
Biology Unit 3
Area of study 1
Chapter 1 ‘The chemical nature of cells’

Quick summary of the synchrotron
-A ‘super microscope’ used to examine molecules in fine detail.
-A particle accelerator that produces extremely brilliant light ranging from:
Lower energy infra-red High energy hard X-rays
-Studies materials in forms
(gas liquid solid) and is applied in many fields.
-Helped discover the reasons behind Phar Laps death.

Water: ‘A unique compound’
Properties of water
Polar because the O atom within the molecule exerts a stronger pull on the shared electrons than the H atoms causing the water molecule to have partially charges areas
This allows water molecules to be attracted to each other and gives many properties.
UNIVERSAL SOLVENT
- Ionic compounds and polar molecules readily in water.
- Water forms hydration shells around ions to prevent them from reforming neutral compounds.
-Non-polar molecules cannot dissolve in water but often form interfaces with it which are frequently the sites of biological reactions.
COOLANT
-Water has a high vaporization temperature as the H bonds allow it to absorb a lot of the heat before changing state.
-Also of high heat capacity to carry heat around the body.
ADHESION
-Water molecules are attracted to each other allowing them to move into small spaces by capillary action.
DENSITY
-Solid water is less dense than liquid.
-Ice floats on water and insulates it allowing aquatic animals to survive beneath it.
IONISES
-H and OH, level of H used to determine pH.

Organic molecules
Sub-units that are formed and bonded are called polymers. Sub units are monomers. The joining of monomers involves the release of a water molecule.

Monomers Polymers
Building blocks of cell: Larger units of the cell:
Sugars -> Polysaccharides
Amino acids -> Proteins
Fatty acids -> Fats, membranes
Nucleotides -> Nucleic acids

The kinds of organic molecules that will be considered are carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids.
For each the following will be examined:
-The basic unit of structure
-How the units will combine to form complex molecules
-Where each of the molecules are found in cells
-Functions of the molecules.

Carbohydrates
Composed of C H & O
Containing one or two sugar molecules are simple carbohydrates. Many sugar molecules are called complex carbohydrates.

Monosaccharides
Single sugar unit and usually has thee formula c6h12o6. Most important monosaccharide is glucose.
Glucose
-A product of photosynthesis.
-During the formation of glucose in plants, energy of the sun is transformed into energy in glucose molecules.
-Energy source in plants and animal’s
-Glucose is a fundamental unit for the formation of both disaccharides and polysaccharides.

Disaccharides
Formed when two monosaccharides combine. Most familiar example is sucrose.
-E.g. of disaccharide is lactose and maltose.
-Sucrose is the form in which carbohydrate is transported in plants. Formed by combinating with fructose.

Polysaccharides- complex carbohydrates
-Polymers of sugar molecules. Most common sugar component is glucose.
-Structure of polysaccharides starch, glycogen and cellulose. All of these are composed entirely of glucose yet their structures and properties are different from one another.
-these differences are because of the way the glucose molecules are linked together.
Glycogen
-Form of energy storage in animals.
-When carbohydrates are digested, glucose is absorbed- carried to the liver- then to all the cells of the body- if there is excess to body requirements- it is converted into glycogen by the liver storage (able to store 100 grams of this)- muscles are the next storage option and can store 300grams of glycogen- if this is all filled then the excess is turned to fat storage.
Starch
Glucose is distributed around a plant in this form.
-Some plants store excess requirements in this form, starch is chief form of storage by most
Show More

Related Documents: Protein and Nucleic Acids Essay example

Notes On Proteins And Nucleic Acids

Week Three Notes – Proteins and Nucleic Acids PROTEINS Crucial Tasks of Proteins * Defense * Antibodies attack and destroy viruses and bacteria * Movement * Motor and contractile proteins are responsible for the physical movement of the cell * Or for moving large molecules into the cell * Catalysis * Proteins function as enzymes in order to speed up chemical reactions in the body * Eg. Salivary amylase digests starch in mouth * Signaling…

Words 1987 - Pages 8

What Elements Does Carbon Bond With To Make Up Life's Molecules

Plants, some animals, and other organisms also use carbohydrates for structural purposes. Lipids can be used to store energy. Some lipids are important parts of biological membranes and waterprood coverings. Nucleic Acids store and transmit hereditary, or genetic, information. Some proteins control the rate of reactions and regulate cell processes. Others form important cellular structures, while still others transport substances into or out of cells or help to fight disease. 1) The Chemistry of Carbon…

Words 699 - Pages 3

Bio 109 Macromolecules Essay

Biological Macromolecules: Four Classes Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic acids 1 Polymers • Most large biological molecules are polymers • An immense diversity of polymers can be built from just a small set of monomer building blocks • Simple parts build complex structures 2 Principles of Polymers • Polymer: a large molecule consisting of many identical or similar subunits connected together • Polymer: poly=many; mer=unit or part • Most biological macromolecules are polymers • Monomer: unit or building block molecule…

Words 2023 - Pages 9

The Chemistry Of Life

carbohydrates ◆ ▪sugars & starches proteins ◆fats (lipids) ◆nucleic acids ◆ ▪DNA, RNA Regents Biology WHY DO WE EAT? ▪We eat to take in more of these chemicals Food for building materials ◆ ▪to make more of us (cells) ▪for growth ▪for repair Food to make energy ◆ ▪calories ▪to make ATP Regents Biology ATP WHAT DO WE NEED TO EAT? ▪Foods to give you more building blocks & more energy ▪for building & running bodies carbohydrates ◆proteins ◆fats ◆nucleic acids ◆vitamins ◆minerals, salts ◆water…

Words 371 - Pages 2

Macromolecules: Organic Compounds

class of compounds whose molecules contain carbon. These compounds are made up of elements like carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. There are four groups of organic compounds found in living things are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins. Carbohydrates are compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Living things mostly use carbohydrates as their main source of energy. However, some plants and animals also use carbohydrates for structural purposes as well. Some…

Words 418 - Pages 2

Zaid S molecule life review paper

Review A synthetic molecule called peptide nucleic acid (PNA) combines the information-storage properties of DNA with the chemical stability of a protein like backbone. Drugs based on PNA would achieve therapeutic effects by binding to specific base sequences of DNA or RNA, repressing or promoting the corresponding gene. A Triple stranded DNA is a structure of DNA in which three oligonucleotides wind around each other and form a triple helix. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule. It's implicated…

Words 425 - Pages 2

Pre-AP Human Anatomy: Carbohydrates

Hannah Lambright January 2nd 2017 Biology Pre-AP Writing Assignment #2 Part1. The human anatomy contains four major biological molecules known as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Each of these molecules has a variety of functions to execute inside of the cell. Carbohydrates: The carbohydrate also known as a saccharide is made up of three elements. Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Carbohydrates…

Words 767 - Pages 4

Biology Chap 5 Essay

Biology Chapter 5 Book Notes The structure and Function of Large Biomolecule Molecules 4 major groups carbohydrates lipids (not made of polymers) proteins nucleic acids Carbs, Proteins, & Nucleic Acid are huge- known as macromolecules The architecture of a large biomolecule plays a vital role in the function 5.1 Macromolecules are polymers, built from monomers Polymer- long molecule constituting of many similar or identical building blocks linked by covalent bonds Made up of monomers The synthesis…

Words 2447 - Pages 10

Essay on Biology Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5: MORE DETAILED All living things contain four main classes of large molecules know as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Polymer: a long molecule consisting of many similar and identical building blocks linked by covalent bonds. Monomers: building blocks that form polymers. In other to synthesis and break down these polymers two processes are required: Condensation/dehydration reaction: involves a removal of a water molecule to form a bond between two or more monomers…

Words 1305 - Pages 6

Molecules Of Life

to talk about the molecules of life. 2. Dave Thomas’ body was made up of the food of the food he created. 3. Proteins in the burger are broken down into ______amino acids_________ and those made the proteins in him. 4. sugars in the bun are broken down to make ATP that is used for energy to move things around his body. 5. fat…

Words 515 - Pages 3