BMSC 200 Midterm 1 Exam
Questions and Answers
Chiral Carbon - ANSWER-4 different substituents attach to a single carbon that can
be arranged differently in space creating 2 stereoisomers
Construction - ANSWER-Biomolecules are often constructed from one stereoisomer
Interactions - ANSWER-Interactions between biomolecules, as well as between
biomolecules and small molecules, are stereospecific
Simplicity - ANSWER-Simple, conserved reactions for synthesis and degradation
What do chemical synthesis of molecules with asymmettric carbons create? -
ANSWER-A mixture of all chiral forms
-Each form can have different effects
4 Major Classes of Biomolecules - ANSWER-1. Protein
2. Carbohydrates
3. Nucleic Acids
4. Lipids
The Case of Thalidomide - ANSWER-Ex. chemical synthesis of molecules created a
different mix of chiral forms
-One helped with nausea and the other caused birth defects
-Dr. Francis Kelsey a reviewer from the FDA denied the drug
3 Biological Polymers - ANSWER-1. Simplicity- Simple, conserved reactions for
synthesis and degration
2. Recycling-Biomolecules can be digested back to component building blocks which
are reusable
3. Diversity- Molecules of incredible complexity can be generated
Proteins - ANSWER--Linear polymers of aminoacids
-20 different amino acids
-Amino acids link into chains that create complex patterns with distinctly different
purposes (proteins)
Polysaccharides - ANSWER--Carbohydrate
-Monosaccharides that are linked together to form a polymer
-Serve biological roles like structure, energy storage, and cellular recognition
Nucleic Acids - ANSWER--Linear polymers of nucleotide building blocks
-5 "building blocks"
, Lipids - ANSWER-Lipids are aggregates of "building blocks"
-Serve in energy storage, formation of membranes, and signalling
Prokaryotes - ANSWER--Small single cell organism
-Growth is rapid allowing quick adaptation
-Single compartment , the nucleoid
Eukaryotes - ANSWER-Large complex cells
-Make up multi-cellular organisms
-Contain organelles
Around how many prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are in your body? - ANSWER-30
trillion eukaryotic cells and 100 trillion prokaryotic cells
What does bacteria in the gut do? - ANSWER-Bacteria in the gut helps digest foo
and maintain a functional immune system
What does Microflora in the gut do? - ANSWER-Impacts health
-Depression, anxiety, obesity, and intelligence
"some people are calling the gut the second brain" - Scott Napper
Are bacteria friends? - ANSWER-Yes, bacteria are my friends
Vitro - ANSWER-Studies the behaviour of molecules outside the context of the cell
and or organism (in glass)
Vivo - ANSWER-Studies that occur within the cell or organism (in the living)
First Law of Thermodynamics - ANSWER-Energy can be transferred and
transformed, but it cannot be created or destroyed.
Second Law of Thermodynamics - ANSWER-Nature has a tendency toward greater
total entropy of the universe as it continually increases
Gibbs Free Energy Theory - ANSWER-Energy changes during chemical reactions
-Free energy can be defind in terms of:
Enthalpy- # and kinds of bonds Entropy- Degree of randomness Temperature-In
Kelvin
G = H - TS
G > 0 = endergonic
G < 0 = exergonic (spontaneous)
G = 0 = equilibrium
Enthalpy (H) - ANSWER-Reflects the number and kinds of bonds
Entropy (S) - ANSWER-The degree of randomness
Temperature - ANSWER-Degrees Kelvin
Questions and Answers
Chiral Carbon - ANSWER-4 different substituents attach to a single carbon that can
be arranged differently in space creating 2 stereoisomers
Construction - ANSWER-Biomolecules are often constructed from one stereoisomer
Interactions - ANSWER-Interactions between biomolecules, as well as between
biomolecules and small molecules, are stereospecific
Simplicity - ANSWER-Simple, conserved reactions for synthesis and degradation
What do chemical synthesis of molecules with asymmettric carbons create? -
ANSWER-A mixture of all chiral forms
-Each form can have different effects
4 Major Classes of Biomolecules - ANSWER-1. Protein
2. Carbohydrates
3. Nucleic Acids
4. Lipids
The Case of Thalidomide - ANSWER-Ex. chemical synthesis of molecules created a
different mix of chiral forms
-One helped with nausea and the other caused birth defects
-Dr. Francis Kelsey a reviewer from the FDA denied the drug
3 Biological Polymers - ANSWER-1. Simplicity- Simple, conserved reactions for
synthesis and degration
2. Recycling-Biomolecules can be digested back to component building blocks which
are reusable
3. Diversity- Molecules of incredible complexity can be generated
Proteins - ANSWER--Linear polymers of aminoacids
-20 different amino acids
-Amino acids link into chains that create complex patterns with distinctly different
purposes (proteins)
Polysaccharides - ANSWER--Carbohydrate
-Monosaccharides that are linked together to form a polymer
-Serve biological roles like structure, energy storage, and cellular recognition
Nucleic Acids - ANSWER--Linear polymers of nucleotide building blocks
-5 "building blocks"
, Lipids - ANSWER-Lipids are aggregates of "building blocks"
-Serve in energy storage, formation of membranes, and signalling
Prokaryotes - ANSWER--Small single cell organism
-Growth is rapid allowing quick adaptation
-Single compartment , the nucleoid
Eukaryotes - ANSWER-Large complex cells
-Make up multi-cellular organisms
-Contain organelles
Around how many prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are in your body? - ANSWER-30
trillion eukaryotic cells and 100 trillion prokaryotic cells
What does bacteria in the gut do? - ANSWER-Bacteria in the gut helps digest foo
and maintain a functional immune system
What does Microflora in the gut do? - ANSWER-Impacts health
-Depression, anxiety, obesity, and intelligence
"some people are calling the gut the second brain" - Scott Napper
Are bacteria friends? - ANSWER-Yes, bacteria are my friends
Vitro - ANSWER-Studies the behaviour of molecules outside the context of the cell
and or organism (in glass)
Vivo - ANSWER-Studies that occur within the cell or organism (in the living)
First Law of Thermodynamics - ANSWER-Energy can be transferred and
transformed, but it cannot be created or destroyed.
Second Law of Thermodynamics - ANSWER-Nature has a tendency toward greater
total entropy of the universe as it continually increases
Gibbs Free Energy Theory - ANSWER-Energy changes during chemical reactions
-Free energy can be defind in terms of:
Enthalpy- # and kinds of bonds Entropy- Degree of randomness Temperature-In
Kelvin
G = H - TS
G > 0 = endergonic
G < 0 = exergonic (spontaneous)
G = 0 = equilibrium
Enthalpy (H) - ANSWER-Reflects the number and kinds of bonds
Entropy (S) - ANSWER-The degree of randomness
Temperature - ANSWER-Degrees Kelvin
