Biochem Organism and Cells

• Living organisms extract, transform and use energy from the environment.
• Living systems have a remarkable capacity for self-replication.
• Organisms are complicated and highly organized.
• Biological structures serve functional purposes in living systems.
• Living systems are actively engaged in energy transformation.
• Living systems have a high degree of chemical complexity and microscopic organization.
• The dimensions of length for biomolecules is given in nanometers (1 nm= 1 x 10 - 9 m).
• The dimensions of mass for biomolecules is given in Dalton (Da) (1 Da  1.66 x 10 - 24 g).
• The structural hierarchy in the molecular organization of cells is evident in the dimensions of length for biomolecules.
• The most abundant, essential elements for all organisms are C, N, O, P, S, H.
• The less abundant, essential elements for all organisms are Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cl.
• Trace levels, essential for all organisms are Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn.
• Trace levels, essential for some organisms are V, Cr, Mo, B, Al, Ga, Sn, Si, As, Se, I.
• Biomolecules are polymers, which can be broken down through hydrolysis.
• Peptide bond is used in proteins, while glycosidic bond is used in carbohydrates.
• Ester bond is used in lipids, while ester and glycosidic bonds are used in nucleic acids.
• Lipids form membranes, proteins form complexes, carbohydrates form cell walls, and nucleic acids form chromosomes.
• Most abundant, essential elements for all organisms are C, N, O, P, S, H.
• Prokaryotes are bacteria.
• Mitochondria are the "power plants" of cells, are surrounded by a double membrane with a series of folds called cristae, and function in energy production through metabolism.
• Lysosomes contain digestive enzyme, are membrane-bound organelles that are responsible for degrading proteins and membranes in the cell.
• Cells may be prokaryotic or eukaryotic.
• The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the transport network for molecules.
• Without the daily satisfaction of these needs, human life would be severely constrained.
• Eukaryotes include plants, fungi, and animals.
• The smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) is a site for synthesis and metabolism of lipids.
• A cell's three basic needs are materials, information, and energy.
• The plasma membrane is the cell's defining boundary, provides a barrier, and contains transport and signaling systems.
• Ribosomes are a protein and RNA complex responsible for protein synthesis.
• The Golgi apparatus processes and packages the macromolecules, is a series of stacked membranes, and vesicles carry materials from the RER to the Golgi apparatus.
• The nucleolus is a site for synthesis of RNA making up the ribosome.
• Eukaryotic cells have structural features such as a cell membrane, nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, lysosomes, peroxisomes, chloroplasts, and cytoplasm.
• The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) is covered with ribosomes which are in the process of synthesizing proteins for secretion or localization in membranes.
• Biochemical substances can sustain life when gathered together in cells.
• The cytoplasm is enclosed by the plasma membrane, has a liquid portion called cytosol, and houses the membranous organelles.