Lecture_1_notes_Intro_BCH400_2025_v2

What are the four major classes of biomolecules?

Lipids, Proteins, Carbohydrates, Nucleic Acids.

What is biochemistry defined as?

The chemistry of life.

What is the significance of condensation reactions in biochemistry?

Monomers become polymers through condensation reactions.

What is the process by which polymers are broken down in biochemistry?

Through hydrolysis.

What is the central dogma of biology proposed by Crick?

DNA is transcribed into RNA, which is translated into proteins.

Who discovered nucleic acids and when?

Friedrich Miescher in 1869.

What did Kary Mullis invent in 1983?

PCR (polymerase chain reaction).

What Nobel Prize did Craig Venter win in 1993?

Nobel Prize for the development of PCR.

What major breakthrough in genome editing was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2020?

CRISPR-Cas system by Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna.

What is the importance of the peptide bond formation?

It is one of the four condensation reactions to remember for the first test.

What are lipids?

Lipids are organic compounds that are fatty acids or their derivatives. They are hydrophobic and include fats, oils, waxes, and steroids.

What are proteins?

Proteins are large biomolecules made up of amino acids. They perform a variety of functions including catalyzing metabolic reactions, replicating DNA, and responding to stimuli.

What are carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are organic molecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically with a hydrogen to oxygen ratio of 2:1. They serve as energy sources and structural components.

What are nucleic acids?

Nucleic acids are biopolymers essential for all known forms of life. They are made up of nucleotides and include DNA and RNA, which store and transmit genetic information.

What is the monomer of lipids?

Fatty acids and glycerol.

What is the polymer of lipids?

Triglycerides and phospholipids.

What is the supra-molecular structure of lipids?

Cell membranes (lipid bilayers).

What is the monomer of proteins?

Amino acids.

What is the polymer of proteins?

Polypeptides.

What is the supra-molecular structure of proteins?

Protein complexes or multi-subunit structures.

What is the monomer of carbohydrates?

Monosaccharides.

What is the polymer of carbohydrates?

Polysaccharides.

What is the supra-molecular structure of carbohydrates?

Cell wall structures, glycogen, and starch granules.

What is the monomer of nucleic acids?

Nucleotides.

What is the polymer of nucleic acids?

Nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA.

What is the supra-molecular structure of nucleic acids?

Double helix structure of DNA and RNA secondary structures.