Kowal Unit 8 Class Slides 24-25

Unit 8 Overview

• Focus: Concepts related to energy dynamics and enzymes in biological systems.

Darwin's Influence

• Happy Darwin Day: Celebrating 216th birthday of Charles Darwin.

• Discussion Prompts:

  • Analyze aspects of Darwin's early life that influenced his theories.

  • Consider why biologists regard Darwin's theory as a fundamentally important idea in biology.

Game Plan

• Activities:

  1. Watch a screencast via Schoology.

  2. Take detailed notes.

  3. Answer six prepared questions (due to calendar adjustments).

Laws of Thermodynamics

1st Law of Thermodynamics

• Conservation of Energy: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

• Energy Transformations:

  • Includes chemical, motion, radiant, and thermal energies.

Law of Conservation of Mass

• Mass remains constant in chemical reactions; it is not created or destroyed.

Example:

• Input: 30 kg of fuel + Fire = 1 kg of Ashes + Smoke + 28 kg of unaccounted matter.

Energy Use in Organisms

• Input & Output:

  • Input: Food (biomass), Oxygen (O2), and sunlight.

  • Output: Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Water (H2O), Heat, and Egested Waste.

• Energy Efficiency:

  • Majority of energy (90%) is lost as heat during metabolic processes.

• Key Elements: Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus are vital.

Energy Types

Mechanical and Kinetic Energy

• Mechanical Energy: Associated with the motion of objects.

• Kinetic Energy: Energy an object possesses due to its motion.

Potential Energy

• Stored Energy: Energy held by an object due to its position.

Entropy

• Measure of Entropy: Describes disorder within a system, which tends to increase over time.

Experimental Data and Observations

Data Collection

• Trial Observations:

  • Experiment tracking normal and altered hand conditions.

  • Results showed varied efficiency based on hand condition and distance from the source.

Enzymes and Reaction Models

Enzyme Functionality

• Definition: Enzymes are proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions.

• Mechanism: Enzymes bind to substrates, lowering activation energy needed for reactions.

Types of Reactions

• Synthesis: Combining substrates into a product.

• Hydrolysis: Breaking substrates into simpler products.

• Induced Fit Model: Enzyme and substrate fit together, slightly changing shape for optimal catalysis.

Class Activities and Homework

• Agenda for February 20:

  • Discuss learning targets and watch the screencast.

  • Complete lab packets focusing on Lactaid and enzyme functions.

• Learning Target: Develop a model illustrating chemical reactions occurring in Lactaid milk.

Overview of Enzymatic Reactions

Key Characteristics of Enzymes:

• Reusable: Enzymes are not consumed in the reaction cycle.

• Specificity: Each enzyme works on specific substrates.

• Environmental Factors: Optimal pH and temperature is essential for enzyme activity.

Energy Storage and Release

ATP and Energy Dynamics

• ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate): Main energy currency of the cell.

• Energy Release: Breaking bonds in ATP releases free energy crucial for cellular work.

• Stored Energy: Potential energy from chemical bonds can be released in controlled amounts.

Conclusion

• Understanding energy dynamics and enzymatic functions is crucial for comprehending biological processes.