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CHEMISTRY 222 & 223 CHEMISTRY 200 - BIOCHEMISTRY Lecture #2 - Chapter One What is Biochemistry? It is the
study of the molecular basis of life involving the composition, production
and degradation of chemical compounds found in living organisms. It also involves reactions
and relationships between these reactions, studied in a wide variety of
organisms. The Goal of Biochemistry
is to understand how biomolecules interact with each other to sustain and
propagate life. A vast majority of
biologically important reactions are common to all cells. This commonality is reflected in the term UNITY
OF BIOCHEMISTRY. Mouse
- Man - Elephant All have same
basic molecules. Let's start by defining the
term: Biomolecules - Different kinds of molecules found in living
organisms. Implication that these
molecules can be incorporated into our bodies in a useful fashion. Let's continue by outlining
three Identifying Characteristics of Life. 1. Living
organisms are complicated and highly organized. They possess intricate internal structures and contain many
kinds of complex molecules, as opposed to random mixtures of chemicals. 2. Living
organisms have the ability to extract, transform and use energy from the
environment (such as nutrients or sunlight, i.e., photosynthesis). 3. Living
organisms have the capacity for precise self-replication and self-assembly
which is quintessential to life. ENERGY WORK (Locomotion, Synthesis, Osmosis in
transport) INANIMATE
OBJECTS TEND TO DECAY TO RANDOM STATE! Whereas, the term
biomolecule doesn't make any distinction as to size, the term macromolecule
does. Macromolecules are very
large and complex molecules composed of smaller units called building block
molecules. Building blocks are often referred
to as monomers and the macromolecules as polymers. Building Block Monomer Macromolecule Polymer Bond(s) Involved 1. Amino Acid Protein amide or peptide 2. Nucleotide Nucleic Acid phosphodiester + H-bond 3. Monosaccharide (sugars) Polysaccharide glycoside 4. Fatty Acids + Glycerol Lipids (Triglycerides) ester
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