BMSC 200 MIDTERM 1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

BMSC 200 MIDTERM 1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Definition of Biochem - answer- Study of life at a molecular level and the application of the principles of chemistry to explain biology What are the 4 Major classes of biomolecules? - answer- 1. Proteins 2. Nucleic Acids 3. Lipids 4. Carbohydrates Does the considerable difference in all living life mean they are different molecularly? - answer- All organisms are remarkably uniform at a molecular level What do all organisms use? - answer- Common building blocks to create common biomolecules (nucleic acids, proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids) 4 Different Foundations of Life - answer- 1. Chemical 2. Energy 3. Genetic 4. Evolutionary What are the four main elements that compose around 98% of most organisms? - answer- Carbon Oxygen Hydrogen Nitrogen What are all known life forms based from? - answer- Carbon How many people could naturally occuring nitrogen in the world feed? - answer- 4 Billion Who was able to get "bread from air" using nitrogen from the air as fertilizer - answer- Fritz Haber How much is a human worth? - answer- -Chemically only less than a dollar -Looking at the chemical components like tissues, organs, and biomolecules have an estimated value of $ What is the next best candidate as the chemical foundation of life? - answer- Silicon Why does Carbon work better than Silicon? - answer- -C-C bonds are stronger than S-S bonds -C-C bonds release more energy on combustion than S-S bonds -Combustion of C-C bonds are soluble and remain active in biosphere What do functional groups determine? - answer- The collective properties of functional groups determine the structure, function, and propeties of the biomolecule What does understanding the structure-function relationship of biomolecules help predict? - answer- Molecular function, complex biology, and rational development of treatments Conformation - answer- Flexible spatial arrangment of atoms within a molecule (changeable without breaking bonds) Configuration - answer- Fixed spatial arrangement of atoms with a molecule (Not changeable unless covalent bond is broken) -Conferredby either double bonds or chiral centers Geometric Isomers - answer- (Cis-trans) Same chemical formula but different configuration of groups attached to a non-rotating double bond Cis - answer- Same side of double bond Trans - answer- Opposite side of double bond 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