biological molecules

• What properties of water make it an important component of blood

  • Cohesive due to hydrogen bonds so water is able to flow and transport molecules in the blood
  • Adhesion and cohesion creates capillary action so plasma is able to flow over cells
  • polar so can act as a solvent and polar molecules are dissolved in water
  • High specific heat capacity so maintains a constant body temperature important for optimal enzyme activity
• Adaptations of glycogen

  • Insoluble so does not effect water potential
  • highly branched so it is compact
  • stores large amounts of energy
  • can be broken does rapidly to release glucose
• Adaptations of cellulose

  • Insoluble
  • unreactive
  • flexible
  • high tensile strength
• What is the importance of triglycerides 


  thermal and electrical insulation

  bouyancy

  energy storage

  respiratory substrate
• Importance of cholesterol 


  adds stability to membrane

  regulates fluidity of membrane

  involved in manufacturing bile, vitamin D and steroid hormones
• Why is data about food flawed

  • Subjects do not provide accurate information
  • people underestimate what they eat
  • do not know the exact ingredients
  • people forget what they have eaten
• What us a limiting factor 


  The factor that will determine the rate when at a low level