BIO 311C -metabolism QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A+ GRADED
What is meant by the term metabolism? Understand the components involved in
a metabolic pathway. What is the advantage of using a multi-step pathway?
Metabolism is the totality of the chemical reactions taking place in the body. It is an
emergent property.
It is a multistep pathway where each step requires a enzyme to catalyze it.
These enzymes allow the next step to occur so metabolic supply and demand is
maintained- there is not too much or too little of anything.
One product is altered in many steps to create by product
The advantage of a multistep pathway is that there is better regulation and specificity.
Also,an intermediate for one step can be an intermediate for another.
Distinguish between catabolism and anabolism.
Catabolism is the release of energy from breaking up organic molecules (that is usually
to provide energy for work and for anabolic pathways- coupling???)
Cellular respiration breaks up sugars in presence of oxygen.
Anabolism usually requires energy- it is the coming together to create complicated
molecules.
Building protein from amino acids
Define the first and second laws of thermodynamics. How are they relevant to
metabolism?
The first law says conservation of energy while the second say that every energy
transformation increases entropy in the universe. The body is an open system, not
isolated.
Important for metabolism because this is how chemical reactions work in the body as
well. Also, the body wants order so it is fighting the tendency of randomness- requires
energy when doing so.
What is entropy? How can you identify it in a system?
Entropy is the measure of randomness. The universe wants to increase this and the
body does this too unless there is an outside force stopping it from doing so.
Distinguish between a spontaneous process (reaction) and a non-spontaneous
process (reaction).
A spontaneous (not necessarily fast) has a negative delta G value and means energy
isn't required to take place, just the right conditions. It leads to more disorder, more
entropy.
A+ GRADED
What is meant by the term metabolism? Understand the components involved in
a metabolic pathway. What is the advantage of using a multi-step pathway?
Metabolism is the totality of the chemical reactions taking place in the body. It is an
emergent property.
It is a multistep pathway where each step requires a enzyme to catalyze it.
These enzymes allow the next step to occur so metabolic supply and demand is
maintained- there is not too much or too little of anything.
One product is altered in many steps to create by product
The advantage of a multistep pathway is that there is better regulation and specificity.
Also,an intermediate for one step can be an intermediate for another.
Distinguish between catabolism and anabolism.
Catabolism is the release of energy from breaking up organic molecules (that is usually
to provide energy for work and for anabolic pathways- coupling???)
Cellular respiration breaks up sugars in presence of oxygen.
Anabolism usually requires energy- it is the coming together to create complicated
molecules.
Building protein from amino acids
Define the first and second laws of thermodynamics. How are they relevant to
metabolism?
The first law says conservation of energy while the second say that every energy
transformation increases entropy in the universe. The body is an open system, not
isolated.
Important for metabolism because this is how chemical reactions work in the body as
well. Also, the body wants order so it is fighting the tendency of randomness- requires
energy when doing so.
What is entropy? How can you identify it in a system?
Entropy is the measure of randomness. The universe wants to increase this and the
body does this too unless there is an outside force stopping it from doing so.
Distinguish between a spontaneous process (reaction) and a non-spontaneous
process (reaction).
A spontaneous (not necessarily fast) has a negative delta G value and means energy
isn't required to take place, just the right conditions. It leads to more disorder, more
entropy.
