Summary list for 2.1 Molecules to metabolism

• Molecular biology is explaining biological processes in terms of the chemicals involved.
• There is a diversity of Carbon based compounds in living things because carbon atoms can form four covalent bonds.
  e.g. carbohydrates, lipids, proteins & nucleic acids.
• All the enzyme-catalysed reactions in a cell make up its metabolism. There are two types:
  • Anabolism: forming macromolecules from monomers by condensation.
  • Catabolism: breaking complex macromolecules into simpler molecules by hydrolysis.
• Some biological compounds can be synthesised outside of living things: e.g. urea.

Skills

• Draw diagrams of:
  • αD-glucose & βD-glucose.
  • D-ribose.
  • a fatty acid.
  • an amino acid with generalised R-group.
• Identification of biochemicals from diagrams to include:
  • monosaccharides.
  • disaccharides.
  • lipids (triglycerides, phospholipids and steroids)
  • amino acids.
  • polypeptides and peptide bonds.
• Knowledge of the Benedicts reagent test for reducing sugars and iodine to test for starch.