Yuudai
Cell biology
Generalities of Biomolecules
What is a Biomolecule?
Biomolecules are the chemical compounds that
make up living beings.
How many classes of biomolecules are there?
Inorganic biomolecules
They are biomolecules not formed by living beings, but essential for
them, such as water, the most abundant biomolecule, gases (oxygen,
carbon dioxide) and inorganic salts: anions such as phosphate
(HPO4-), bicarbonate (HCO3-) and cations such as ammonium
(NH4+)
Organic biomolecules
They are synthesized only by living beings and have a
carbon-based structure.
They are composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen, and nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur are often
also present; other elements are sometimes
incorporated, but in much smaller proportions.
How did biomolecules originate?
Biomolecules originated from inorganic matter on early Earth through
a process of abiotic synthesis, or chemical evolution. The most widely
accepted hypothesis to explain this origin is that of Oparin and
Haldane, which proposes that the planet's extreme conditions billions
of years ago (high temperature, an oxygen-free atmosphere, and high
energy from volcanoes and lightning) allowed simple molecules to
combine to form more complex molecules.
They obtained organic molecules from inorganic biomolecules
Yes, organic biomolecules (such as amino acids) could have formed from
inorganic molecules (such as methane, ammonia, and water) under the conditions
of early Earth. This process, known as abiotic synthesis, is a cornerstone of Oparin
and Haldane's theory of the origin of life.
The famous Miller-Urey experiment demonstrated the viability of this hypothesis. In
this experiment, Earth's early atmosphere (without oxygen, with methane,
ammonia, hydrogen, and water vapor) was simulated, and electrical discharges
were applied to simulate lightning. The result was the formation of several organic
biomolecules, including amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.
Cell biology
Generalities of Biomolecules
What is a Biomolecule?
Biomolecules are the chemical compounds that
make up living beings.
How many classes of biomolecules are there?
Inorganic biomolecules
They are biomolecules not formed by living beings, but essential for
them, such as water, the most abundant biomolecule, gases (oxygen,
carbon dioxide) and inorganic salts: anions such as phosphate
(HPO4-), bicarbonate (HCO3-) and cations such as ammonium
(NH4+)
Organic biomolecules
They are synthesized only by living beings and have a
carbon-based structure.
They are composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen, and nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur are often
also present; other elements are sometimes
incorporated, but in much smaller proportions.
How did biomolecules originate?
Biomolecules originated from inorganic matter on early Earth through
a process of abiotic synthesis, or chemical evolution. The most widely
accepted hypothesis to explain this origin is that of Oparin and
Haldane, which proposes that the planet's extreme conditions billions
of years ago (high temperature, an oxygen-free atmosphere, and high
energy from volcanoes and lightning) allowed simple molecules to
combine to form more complex molecules.
They obtained organic molecules from inorganic biomolecules
Yes, organic biomolecules (such as amino acids) could have formed from
inorganic molecules (such as methane, ammonia, and water) under the conditions
of early Earth. This process, known as abiotic synthesis, is a cornerstone of Oparin
and Haldane's theory of the origin of life.
The famous Miller-Urey experiment demonstrated the viability of this hypothesis. In
this experiment, Earth's early atmosphere (without oxygen, with methane,
ammonia, hydrogen, and water vapor) was simulated, and electrical discharges
were applied to simulate lightning. The result was the formation of several organic
biomolecules, including amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.
