metabolism

• What are the functions/characteristics of life?

  Homeostasis, metabolism, growth, reproduction
• What does it mean that all life obeys the same chemical and physical laws?

  Life is complex, organized, and dynamic
• What is biochemistry?

  Chemistry of living things
• What levels does biochemistry study biological processes at?

  Cellular and subcellular levels
• How does biochemistry explain energy generation in the body?

  It explains how food is digested and utilized
• What relationships does biochemistry explore?

  Relationships among different metabolic pathways
• What is the significance of understanding biomolecules?

  They play critical roles in biological processes
• What are the applications of biochemistry?

  • Improvement of food production
  • Understanding biological processes
  • Drug development and new treatments
  • Integral part of forensics
  • Advancement of knowledge through research
• What are the two types of cells?

  Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
• What is a key feature of prokaryotic cells?

  No membrane-bound organelles
• How do prokaryotic cells reproduce?

  Mainly asexual via binary fission
• What is a key feature of eukaryotic cells?

  Has membrane-bound organelles
• What is the function of mitochondria in eukaryotic cells?

  Site of respiration and ATP synthesis
• What is the role of the nucleus in a cell?

  DNA replication and transcription
• What is the function of lysosomes?

  Degradation of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids
• What are the main types of biomolecules?

  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Proteins
  • Nucleic acids
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals
  • Water
  • High energy compounds

  
• What is the composition of the human body by percentage?

  Water 60%, Protein 15%, Lipids 15%
• What are the six main elements that compose 99% of the human body?

  Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus
• What determines the chemical properties of organic molecules?

  Functional groups
• What are the major classes of small biomolecules?

  Amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, nucleotides

  
• What is the medical importance of carbohydrates?

  • Source of energy
  • Synthesis of macromolecules
  • Regulating lipid metabolism
  • Deficiencies lead to diseases like diabetes
• What are the biological roles of lipids?

  • Energy storage
  • Structural components of membranes
  • Enzyme cofactors
  • Hormones and signaling messengers
• What are the functions of proteins?

  • Structural functions
  • Mechanical functions
  • Enzymatic functions
  • Cell signaling
• What is metabolism?

  Sum of all chemical reactions in an organism
• What are the two types of metabolism?

  Catabolism and anabolism
• What is catabolism?

  Breakdown of complex molecules to simple ones
• What is energy defined as in biological terms?

  The ability to do work
• What is the first law of thermodynamics?

  Energy cannot be created or destroyed
• What is Gibbs free energy?

  Maximum energy available for useful work
• What does a negative Gibbs free energy indicate?

  Spontaneous reaction that releases energy
• What is ATP known as?

  The energy currency of the cell
• How is energy stored in ATP?

  In high energy bonds within ATP
• How is energy released from ATP?

  Via ATP breakdown

  
• What is Gibbs free energy (DG)?

  Maximum energy available for useful work
• What does it mean when DG equals zero?

  The system is at equilibrium
• What characterizes a spontaneous reaction?


  It has a negative DG and releases energy
• What type of reaction is cellular respiration?

  Exergonic
• What type of reaction requires an input of energy?

  Endergonic reaction
• What are the four purposes of energy in biological systems?

  Mechanical work, active transport, synthesis, transmission

  
• What distinguishes phototrophs from chemotrophs?

  Source of energy: light vs. chemicals