KIN2020 - Molecular Concepts | Wk1

\ # Basic Characteristics of Life 1. **%%Homeostasis%%**: Regulation of the internal environment to maintain equilibrium | Systems | Excess | Deficit | |----|----|----| | **Blood pH** (7) | The proximal tubule increases HCO3− reabsorption during acidemia | The proximal tubule decreases HCO3− reabsorption during alkalemia | | **Blood glucose regulation** (Less than 100mg/dL) | Blood sugar is too high, the pancreas secretes more insulin | Blood sugar levels drop, the pancreas releases glucagon to raise them. | | **Thermoregulation** [(37°C)](https://www.autonomicneuroscience.com/article/S1566-0702(16)30001-7/fulltext) | When too cold, muscle contraction (shivering), and vasodilation | When too hot, sweating occurs, and vasoconstriction | 2. **%%Organization%%**: Being composed of different levels, which are the basic units of life. * Whole organism * Tissue (muscle, connective, epithelial, and nervous) * Cell 3. **%%Metabolism%%**: The chemical processes that are necessary for the maintenance of life | CATAbolism | ANAbolism | |----|----| | Substances are ==breaking down== | Substances are ==synthesized== | | Provide energy | Require energy | | Ex.: Breaking down ATP in order to digest | Ex.: Needing ATP in order to grow | 4. **%%Growth %%**: Maintenance of a higher rate of building up than breaking down. * Anabolism at its finest * Increase in size in ALL parts of the organism * Progression from a simpler form to a more complex one 5. **%%Adaptation%%**: The ability to respond over a period of time to one’s environment. *Determined by genes and genetics* ``` -- Developping melanin the closer you live to the equator -- Heat acclimatization -- Increase of EPO in high altitude -- Gaining or losing weight due to nutrition and exercise ``` 6. **%%Response to stimuli%%**: Ability to respond in the short term to a stimulus * Fight or flight * Response to sudden pain 7. **%%Reproduction%%**: Ability to produce new organisms **%%8) Carbon-containing :%%** Carbon, a chemical element that forms the basis of life on earth. Carbon is found in ALL organic matter (when bound to hydrogen, carbon is considered organic) **%%9) Water reliance :%%** Water, a chemical substance needed for the survival of all forms of life on earth **%%10) Have genetic info : %%**Have DNA & RNA **%%11) Complex :%%** Made up of interconnected and related parts/systems. # Biomolecule Elements ## **What is a molecule?** * The smallest particle of a substance that retain its properties * Group of atoms held together by chemical bonds ex.: H2O, CO2, HCO3- * Can be composed of one or more atoms ex.: O2 or C6H1206 ## **What are biomolecules?** * Biomolecules are organic molecules important for the survival of living cells. * Aids organisms to grow, sustain, and reproduce | Biomolecule | Main function | Other, lesser function | |----|----|----| | Protein | Enzymes | Fuel source, structural | | Carbohydrate | Fuel source | structural | | Lipids (Fat) | Fuel source | structural | | Nucleic Acid | Genetic info, DNA & RNA | | ## **What atoms predominate in biomolecules?** Hydrogen 1^H2 - colourless gas Carbon 6^C - graphite or diamond Nitrogen 7^N2 - colourless gas Oxygen 8^O2 - colourless gas Phosphorus 15^P - red\\white waxy Sulfur 16^P - yellow crystal # Shared Molecular Characteristics ## **1) Life obeys the laws of thermodynamics** **Thermodynamics** * Study of the movement of energy * Energy comes from food and it’s broken down, releases heat, contracts muscles/neuro * Energy from food is being transformed into chemical energy *Law 1: Conservation of Energy* * *Energy is neither created nor destroyed, it just changes forms* * In a biochemical thermodynamic system : energy comes from food and work is extracted by the body. *Law 2: All process increase entropy* * Entropy = disorder * CATAbolism = Large food molecules (>entropy) are broken down into smaller molecules (entropy) * Catabolism happens at a higher rate than anabolism so the net effect is that entropy increases ## **2) ATP is the energy currency of life** **ATP** * Molecular currency that transports energy within cells for metabolism * Produced during photosynthesis (plants) and cell respiration * Used for a multitude of cellular processes ## **3) Life is composed of small & large biomolecules** **Nutrient - What is it?** Any substance that is of nutritional value to an organism. They provide the building blocks for the organism to maintian, grow, and repair itself. -Micronutrient: An essential nutrient required in small amounts (ex. microminerals and vitamins.) -Macronutrient: A nutrient that is required in large amounts (ex. biomolecules and macrominerals) # 4 Biomolecules ## Small molecule In their simplest form, the biomolecules are found as monomers. A monomer is the smallest possible unit that still retains the characteristics of the molecule. | Name | # of units | |----|----| | Monomer | 1 | | Dimer | 2 | | Trimer | 3 | | Oligomer (oligo = a few) | up to 50 | ## Large molecule In a more complex form, the biomolecules can exist as polymers. Polymers are composed of repeating monomers joined by covalent bonds. * Can contain 100-1000s of monomers * Can be linear chains, branched, complex folded shapes… ## Carbohydrates (CHO) | Monosaccharides | Disaccharides | Polysaccharides | |----|----|----| | %%glucose%% *C4-OH downward* | maltose (glu + glu) | fiber | | fructose *5-atom ring* | sucrose (glu + fru) | amylose, amylopectin | | galactose *C4-OH upwards* | lactose (glu + lac) | glycogen | **Other monomers:** Ribose - C5H10O5 * Found in RNA * Highly concentrated in brewers yeast Deoxyribose - C5H10O4 * Found in DNA * Natural occurrence much lower than ribose \ \ \ \ ## Protein \ ## Lipids \ ## Nucleic Acid