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Basic Chemistry
  • The “basement” of the biological hierarchy pyramid—atoms, molecules and compounds
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Matter—the “stuff” of life”
  • Matter is composed of small particles called atoms.
  • All the different kinds of atoms are chemical elements.
  • Elements differ from one another because of varying numbers of protons contained in the nucleus of the atom.
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Chemical Bonds and the Formation of Compounds
  • The majority of the elements do not exist in elemental form but are bonded together with other elements to form chemical compounds.
  • Two major types of chemical bonds form compounds.
  • Ionic bonds form ionic compounds and covalent bonds form covalent molecules.
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Ionic Bonding
  • Ionic bonds form when atoms are attracted to one another by opposite electrical charges.
  • The elements sodium and chlorine react to produce sodium chloride.
  • Metallic sodium will donate an electron to non-metallic chlorine.
  • About 0.06% of the atoms in your body are Na+ and Cl- (40 g or the wt. of your fingernails!)
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Covalent Bonding
  • Covalent bonds form when atoms share a pair(s) of electron(s).
  • Example: hydrogen and oxygen will share a pair of electrons between them when the covalent molecule water is formed.
  • The bonds that hold the molecules of your body together are covalent bonds.
  • Covalent bonds are best suited to aid in construction of the molecules of life because they are directional bonds.
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Water—the life-giving liquid
  • Water is a unique substance.  It is the only low molecular weight covalent compound that exists as a liquid at ambient temperatures.
  • Water is a polar molecule.  It is this polarity that gives water its unique properties.
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Properties of Water
  • Water is a universal solvent.
  • Water has a high specific heat.
  • Water is adhesive and cohesive.
  • Water is most dense at 4 C and not at its freezing point (0 C).
  • Water has both acidic and basic properties.
  • Water forms hydrogen bonds with itself and many other substances
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 Acid/Base Chemistry
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Biological Molecules
  • The Chemistry of Life
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Carbohydrates – C:H2:O
  • Functions
    • Serve as a readily available fuel for living things (sugars and starches)
    • Form certain structural components (cellulose, chitin, or peptidoglycan)
    • Make up an important component of genetic materials—DNA and RNA (deoxyribose and ribose)
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Carbohydrates--Basic building blocks
  • Monosaccharides or simple sugars
    • Examples:
      • Glucose—C6H1206
      • Fructose--C6H1206
      • Deoxyribose–C5H1004
      • Ribose—C5H1005
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Carbohydrates--Other Examples
  • Disaccharides—lactose (milk sugar), maltose (malt sugar), sucrose (cane sugar)
  • These “double sugars” are produced through a dehydration synthesis reactions typical in the formation of all polymers.
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Dehydration Synthesis—removal of H2O
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Carbohydrates—Other Examples
  • Polysaccharides—plant and animal starches, cellulose, peptidoglycan or chitin
    • Plant and animal starches are digestable and used as fuel sources
    • Cellulose is undigestable plant fiber but necessary for peristalsis to occur
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Lipids—C:H:O with much less O than C
  • Functions
    • Serve as a source of long-term stored fuel
    • Form certain structural components (cellular membranes)
    • Act as insulation for neurons (myelin sheath) or lubrication and protection (ear wax)
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Lipids--Basic building blocks
    • Glycerol
    • Fatty Acids
      • Saturated—from animal sources; generally are solid at room temperature (lard, chicken fat)
      • Unsaturated—from plant sources; generally are liquid at room temperature (corn oil, sunflower oil)
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Examples of Lipids
    • Triglycerides—true fats; contain one glycerol and three fatty acids
    • Phospholipids—important component of cell membranes; replace one fatty acid with a phosphate group


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Other Examples of Lipids
    • Waxes—use an alcohol other than glycerol
    • Steroids—unique structure; male and female sex hormones; cholesterol; cortisone
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Proteins—C:H:O:N
  • Functions
    • Serve as structural components (hemoglobin, keratin)
    • Act as enzymes or biological catalysts during chemical reactions (perioxidase, renin or pepsin)
    • Many act as hormones or chemical messengers (insulin, thyroxine)
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Proteins—Basic building blocks
  • Amino Acids
    • Approximately 20+ different amino acids
    • Arranged in specific sequences like letters in words to produce different proteins
  • Chains of amino acids are also folded in 2 and 3 dimensions to produce working polypeptide or protein (and sometimes 4 dimensions)
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Peptide Bonding
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Primary thru Quaternary Structure of Proteins
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More Examples of Proteins
    • Collagen—the most abundant protein in your body; forms the matrix of your skin, ligaments, tendons and bone
    • Antibodies—protect from infections and cancer
    • Fibrin—clots blood
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Nucleic Acids—C:H:O:N:S:P
  • Functions
    • Serve as the genetic material for all life forms—DNA and RNA
    • Also serve as the chief energy currency for life—ATP
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Nucleic Acids—Basic Building Blocks
  • Nucleotides—composed of three basic parts
    • A pentose (5 carbon) sugar—either ribose or deoxyribose
    • A phosphate group—a negatively charged structure
    • One of five different nitrogen bases—adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine or uracil
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Examples of N.A.
  • DNA—the genetic material
    • A double helix composed of two strands of nucleotides.
    • Each chain is made of millions of nucleotides, but these millions are of four types that differ only in their nitrogenous bases.
    • Uses deoxyribose as the sugar and adenine, guanine, cytosine,  and  thymine bases.
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"RNA—works with DNA to provide..."
  • RNA—works with DNA to provide a copy of the genetic information to the cell
    • A single strand of nucleotides.
    • Strand is copied from only one specific gene from the DNA molecule.
    • Uses ribose sugar and adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil bases.
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