BIOLOGY 1107 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
What property of carbon makes it essential for organic life? - ANS -
Carbon can form up to four covalent bonds, allowing it to form long
chains
What property of carboxyl makes carboxyl containing molecules
hydrophilic? Which macromolecules contain carboxyl? - ANS -Carboxyl
groups release H+, making its parent molecule hydrophilic. It is found in
phospholipids and triglycerides.
Fiber is not really a nutrient, because it passes through our body
undigested. Explain why fiber cannot be digested and why it is
important to our diet. - ANS -The enzymes required to digest cellulose
are not produced in human body; undigested fiber adds bulk to the
food easing bowel movements.
Animals cannot digest cellulose due to the type of bonding between the
glucose monomers. The glucose monomers are there for an energy
source but are unattainable. Yet ruminants such as cows and sheep, and
termites eat cellulose in the form of grasses and wood. How do they do
it? - ANS -Specialized bacteria and protists are found in the digestive
, tracts of these animals making cellulase that results in cellulose
breakdown.
What are the differences between saturated and unsaturated fats? -
ANS -Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and unsaturated fats
are liquid at room temperature
The fatty acids of triglycerides are classified as saturated, unsaturated,
or trans fats. What is it about the structure of these compounds that
give them their physical characteristics? - ANS -Unsaturated fats and
trans fats have some double bonded carbon atoms, while saturated fats
do not.
What type of compound functions in hormone production, contributes
to membrane flexibility, and is the starting molecule for bile salts? - ANS
-Steroids serve in the hormone production and cholesterol contributes
to membrane flexibility, and precursor for bile salt production.
Why is it possible for humans to digest food that contains starch, but
not cellulose. - ANS -Amylase can digest 1,4 linkage of glucose found in
starch whereas it cannot digest the linkage of glucose found in cellulose.
What categories of amino acids would you expect to find on the surface
of a soluble protein and which would you expect to find in the interior?
List some examples for each part of the answer. - ANS -Polar and
ANSWERS
What property of carbon makes it essential for organic life? - ANS -
Carbon can form up to four covalent bonds, allowing it to form long
chains
What property of carboxyl makes carboxyl containing molecules
hydrophilic? Which macromolecules contain carboxyl? - ANS -Carboxyl
groups release H+, making its parent molecule hydrophilic. It is found in
phospholipids and triglycerides.
Fiber is not really a nutrient, because it passes through our body
undigested. Explain why fiber cannot be digested and why it is
important to our diet. - ANS -The enzymes required to digest cellulose
are not produced in human body; undigested fiber adds bulk to the
food easing bowel movements.
Animals cannot digest cellulose due to the type of bonding between the
glucose monomers. The glucose monomers are there for an energy
source but are unattainable. Yet ruminants such as cows and sheep, and
termites eat cellulose in the form of grasses and wood. How do they do
it? - ANS -Specialized bacteria and protists are found in the digestive
, tracts of these animals making cellulase that results in cellulose
breakdown.
What are the differences between saturated and unsaturated fats? -
ANS -Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and unsaturated fats
are liquid at room temperature
The fatty acids of triglycerides are classified as saturated, unsaturated,
or trans fats. What is it about the structure of these compounds that
give them their physical characteristics? - ANS -Unsaturated fats and
trans fats have some double bonded carbon atoms, while saturated fats
do not.
What type of compound functions in hormone production, contributes
to membrane flexibility, and is the starting molecule for bile salts? - ANS
-Steroids serve in the hormone production and cholesterol contributes
to membrane flexibility, and precursor for bile salt production.
Why is it possible for humans to digest food that contains starch, but
not cellulose. - ANS -Amylase can digest 1,4 linkage of glucose found in
starch whereas it cannot digest the linkage of glucose found in cellulose.
What categories of amino acids would you expect to find on the surface
of a soluble protein and which would you expect to find in the interior?
List some examples for each part of the answer. - ANS -Polar and
