BIOCHEMISTRY

• Alkanes


  • propane
  • octane
  • methane
• Cellulose, found in plant cell walls, is the most abundant organic compound on Earth
• A typical cow produces over 200 pounds of methane gas each year
• Organic chemistry


  The study of carbon compounds
• Water is used in most reactions in the body
• Large molecules are called polymers
• Water


  • Simple molecular structure composed of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms
  • Ability to dissolve ions and other molecules due to polarity
• Characteristics of carbon compounds


  • Contain only carbon & hydrogen atoms
  • Attach to other carbons
  • Form an endless diversity of carbon skeletons
• Each type of organic molecule has a unique three-dimensional shape
• Cells link monomers by condensation or dehydration synthesis to form polymers
• Categories of large molecules in cells

  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Proteins
  • Nucleic Acids
• Fructose is found in fruits
• Simple sugars

  • glucose
  • fructose
  • galactose
• Uses of alkanes


  • Automobile gasoline
  • Home heating/cooking fuel
• Although a cell is mostly water, the rest of the cell consists mostly of carbon-based molecules
• About 60-90 percent of an organism is water
• Organic molecules used in various industries

  • Foods
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Fuels
  • Construction
• A typical cell in the body has about 2 meters of DNA
• Carbon


  • Has four electrons in an outer shell that holds eight
  • Can share its electrons with other atoms to form up to four covalent bonds
• Water is called the universal solvent
• Polymers are built from smaller molecules called monomers
• Glucose is found in sports drinks
• Cells break down macromolecules by hydrolysis
• Hydrocarbons of fat molecules provide energy for our bodies
• Carbohydrates


  • Small sugar molecules in soft drinks
  • Long starch molecules in pasta and potatoes
• The shape of an organic molecule determines its function in an organism
• Common disaccharides

  • Sucrose (table sugar)
  • Lactose (Milk Sugar)
  • Maltose (Grain sugar)
• Maltose is composed of 2 glucose molecules
• Complex carbohydrates


  Composed of many sugar monomers linked together, forming polymers of monosaccharide chains
• Starch is an example of a polysaccharide in plants
• Isomers


  Glucose & fructose are isomers because their structures are different, but their chemical formulas are the same
• Animals store excess sugar in the form of glycogen, which is similar in structure to starch as both are made of glucose monomers
• Lipids, including fats, waxes, steroids, and oils, do not mix with water as they are hydrophobic or "water-fearing"
• Monomer of lipids


  Composed of Glycerol & 3 fatty acid chains, where Glycerol forms the "backbone" of the fat, being an Organic Alcohol (-OL ending)
• Unsaturated fatty acids have less than the maximum number of hydrogens bonded to the carbons with a double bond between carbons
• Most animals cannot derive nutrition from fiber, but have bacteria in their digestive tracts that can break down cellulose
• Sucrose is composed of glucose + fructose
• Polysaccharides

  • Starch
  • Glycogen
  • Cellulose
• Simple sugars and double sugars dissolve readily in water as they are hydrophilic or "water-loving" due to -OH groups making them water-soluble
• Simple sugars

  • Glucose
  • Fructose
  • Galactose