Chapter 1
What is reductionism? How is if different from systems biology?
Reductionism in science is breaking down large systems to explain how the smaller parts work. Systems biology focuses on emergent properties.
What are monosaccharides? Provide examples.
Simplest carbohydrate, sugar with six carbon atoms
Ex: Glucose, Galactose, Fructose
What is a word or two that you can generally associate with lipids?
Fat, Butter, Oil, Olive oil
Fully describe the three components of the Cell Theory.
All organisms are composed of cells, Cells are the smallest living things, Cells can only arise from pre-existing cells
What evidence did Darwin observe that led him to propose his theory of evolution?
Galapogoes finches had many different species that had different features. (Larger/smaller beaks) He concluded that they all evolved from a single origin.
What are disaccharides? Provide examples.
Two monosaccharides linked into a peptide bond via dehydration synthesis.
Ex: sucrose lactose maltose
What is a word or two that you can generally associate with proteins?
Enzymes, regulation, support, defence, storage, movement
Why is cell size limited? How do larger organisms exist if cell size is limited?
Cells rely on diffusion of substances to maintain homoestasis. Rate of diffusion is affected by surface area to volume ratio, temperature, concentration gradient, distance
Organisms are multicellular
How is chemistry and physics related to the science of biology?
The biology of life is based on the chemical and physical laws of science.
Describe THREE important polysaccharides
Starch: energy storage in plants
Glycogen: energy storage in humans
Chitin: Structural support for arthropods and fungi
Cellulose: Structural support for plants
What is a word or two that you can generally associate with nucleic acids?
DNA, RNA, ATP, information
What is the difference between basic and applied science?
Basic research is intended to extend the boundaries of what we know
Applied research is based on a foundation provided by basic research. May involve the manufacture of goods such as food additives or drugs.
What is the purpose of DNA? RNA?
DNA encodes information for amino acid sequence of proteins
RNA uses information in DNA to specify sequence of amino acids in proteins
What are functional groups?
Functional groups are specific molecular groups that bond to carbon-hydrogen cores, have unique chemical properties. Wherever they attach can influence the behavior of a molecule in reactions.
The idea of biological evolution existed before Charles Darwin. How did his ideas influence the theory of evolution?
Darwin proposed the idea of natural selection which provided the theory that all species originate from a singular living organism.
Which protein helps other proteins obtain their final structure?
Chaperone proteins
Describe the structure of a phospholipid. How does it differ from a triglyceride? Why are phospholipids so important?
Phospholipids are composed of glycerol, a phosphate group making up the polar head, with two non-polar fatty acid tails. Important as they make up our cell membranes
Triglycerides are composed of one glycerol and three fatty acid tails.