Campbell Unit 1: The Chemistry of Life

Organization

Hierarchy of biological organization - Biosphere, Ecosystems, Communities, Populations, Species, Organisms, Organs, Tissues, Cells, Organelles, Molecules

Emergent Properties

Properties emerge at each level that weren’t there on the last one, due to arrangement and interactions of parts as complexity increases

Systems Biology

Analyze interactions among parts of system

Cell Theory

All living organisms made of cells, and actions are based on cell activity

Eukaryotic Cell

Membrane enclosed organelles and nucleus

Prokaryotic Cell

No nucleus or membrane enclosed organelles, smaller than eukaryotic

Chromosomes

Contain genetic material as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which has hundreds or thousands of genes

Gene Expression

The process which genetic information directs the production of a cellular product

Genome

“Library” of genetic instructions that were inherited

Genomics

Studying sets of genes in one or more species at once

Proteomics

Studying of sets of proteins at once

Proteome

Entire set proteins

Feedback Regulation

Output of product regulates it

Negative Feedback

Most common, Response reduced initial stimulus

Positive Feedback

Product speeds up own production

Atom

Smallest unit of matter that still has the properties of element

Atomic Nucleus

At center of the atom, a dense core of tightly packed neutrons and protons with a + charge because of the protons

Electron

Rapidly moving electrons form a “cloud” of - charge around the nucleus

Isotopes

Different atomic forms of elements

Covalent Bond

Two atoms sharing a pair of valence electrons, usually nonmetals

Ionic Bond

Cations & anions attract each other

Hydrogen Bond

Noncovalent attraction between hydrogen and electronegative atom

Chemical Reactions

Making and breaking of chemical bonds

Cohesion

Attraction and sticking together of water molecules

Adhesion

Clinging of one substance to another

Temperature

Average kinetic energy of molecules

Heat

Thermal energy transferred from one body of matter to another

Specific Heat

Amount of heat for 1g of the substance ± temperature by 1°C

Heat of Vaporization

Amount of heat to turn 1g liquid > gas

Solution

Solute (dissolved) + solvent (dissolved in)

Aqueous Solution

Water is the solvent in a solution

Hydrophilic

Affinity to water

Hydrophobic

Nonionic, nonpolar, repel water

Acidic

High concentration of H+ ions

Basic

High concentration of OH- ions

Acid

Higher hydrogen ion concentration

Base

Lower hydrogen ion concentration

Product of H+ and OH-

Always 10^-14 in an aqueous solution at 25°C

pH

-log[H+]

Strong acids and bases

Completely dissociate in water

pH of most living cells

Around 7

pH of human blood

7.4, can't survive if ± 0.4

Buffer

Substance that minimizes changes in pH

Ocean Acidification

When CO2 dissolves in seawater, lowering ocean pH and carbonate ion concentration

Carbon & Molecular Diversity

Chapter 4

Organic Chemistry

Study of compounds containing carbon

Major elements to life

C, H, O, N, S, P

Abiotic

Nonliving

Vitalism

Life force outside of natural laws

Mechanism

Natural laws create all phenomena

Carbon atoms

Can form diverse molecules by bonding to four other atoms

Valence

Number of covalent bonds an atom can form

Hydrocarbons

Organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen

Isomers

Same number of atoms of the same elements but different structures

Structural Isomers

Different covalent arrangements of their atoms

Cis-Trans Isomers/Geometric Isomers

Differ in spatial arrangements around a double bond

Enantiomers

Mirror images of each other

Functional group

Chemical group directly involved in chemical reactions

Hydroxyl Group

-OH, polar and forms hydrogen bonds with water

Carbonyl Group

C=O, Ketone or aldehyde

Carboxyl Group

-COOH, acts as an acid

Amino Group

-NH2, acts as a base

Sulfhydryl Group

-SH, stabilizes protein structure

Phosphate Group

-OPO3^2-, contributes negative charge

Methyl Group

-CH3, affects gene expression

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

Stores potential to react with water or other molecules

Macromolecules

Large carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids

Polymers

Long chain-like molecules consisting of many similar building blocks linked by covalent bonds

Monomers

Building blocks of polymers

Enzyme

Specialized macromolecules that speed up chemical reactions

Condensation Reaction

Connects monomers or polymers, with the loss of a small molecule

Dehydration Reaction

Water molecule is a byproduct, two molecules are covalently bonded by its loss

Hydrolysis

Reverse of dehydration synthesis, bond between monomers is broken by addition of a water molecule

Carbohydrates

Sugars and polymers of sugars

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars, monomers of more complex sugars

Disaccharide

Two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic linkage

Glycosidic Linkage

Covalent bond formed between two monosaccharides by a dehydration reaction

Polysaccharide

Macromolecules formed by monosaccharides, used as storage and structural material

Starch

Polymer of glucose monomers, stored as plastids

Glycogen

Polymer of glucose, extensively branched

Cellulose

Polysaccharide, major component of cell walls

Chitin

Carbohydrate used by arthropods to build exoskeletons

Lipids

Diverse group of hydrophobic macromolecules

Fat

Glycerol joined to three fatty acids

Fatty Acid

Long carbon skeleton with a carboxyl group at the end

Ester Linkage

Bond between hydroxyl and carboxyl group

Saturated Fatty Acid

No double bonds, solid at room temperature

Unsaturated Fatty Acid

One or more double bonds, liquid at room temperature

Trans Fats

Unsaturated fats with trans double bonds

Phospholipid

Make up cell membranes, hydrophobic tail and hydrophilic head

Steroids

Four fused rings, different steroids alter different chemical groups

Protein

Biologically functional molecule with one or more polypeptides folded into a 3D structure

Peptide Bond

Bond between amino acids

Polypeptide

Polymer of amino acids

Primary Structure

Unique sequence of amino acids in a protein

Secondary Structure: