Week 1 topics

Biomolecules Overview

Four Major Classes of Biomolecules
- Proteins
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Nucleic Acids
Monomer Units of Biomolecules
- Proteins: Amino Acids
- Carbohydrates: Simple sugars (e.g., glucose)
- Lipids: Free fatty acids, Acetyl group
- Nucleic Acids: Nucleotides (Bases, purines, and pyrimidines)
Functions of Biomolecules
- Proteins:
  - Structure
  - Enzymes
  - Storage
  - Signaling (receptors)
  - Regulation
- Carbohydrates:
  - Structure
  - Energy storage
- Lipids:
  - Energy Storage
  - Cell membranes
  - Signals
- Nucleic Acids:
  - Information storage
  - Information transfer

The central dogma describes the flow of genetic information within a biological system:
- \text{DNA} \rightarrow \text{RNA} \rightarrow \text{Protein}
- Note: RNA viruses are an exception to this flow.

Metabolism is defined as the creation and use of biomolecules.
- Includes both energy production and the building of cellular structures.

What makes up a gene?
- RNA Polymerase binds to the template strand.
- Nucleosomes (Histones and DNA)
- Promoter region
- TATA box
- General Transcription Factors
- Regulatory Elements
- Enhancer or Silencer