Organic molecules, Biology

Assignment Help:

Organic Molecules

  • Some organic molecules in life are
    • Carbohydrates and Lipids à C, H and O
    • Proteins à C, H, O, N & sometimes S
    • Nucleic acids à C, H, O, N & P

                     Can also contain traces of Mg and Fe (e.g. in proteins)

  • Functional groups è atoms that tend to react a certain way
    • Contribute to chemical & physical properties of the molecule
    • E.g.

                       Alcohols à hydroxyl group (-OH)

                      Carboxylic Acids à carboxyl group (-COOH)

                      Amino à amine/amide (NH)

                      Sulfhydryl à (-SH)

                      Phosphates à (-OOP=O)

                      Carbonyl à Aldehydes and Ketones (=O)

o   Can participate in redox, acid-base, condensation/dehydration & hydrolysis reactions

  • The oxidation of alcohols into aldehydes into carboxylic acids
    • Important for fatty acids
    • Thiols è form disulfide linkages upon oxidation àimportant in protein synthesis (formation of macromolecules)
  • Carbon
    • Has four valence electrons and can form straight branched chains or rings
    • Provides a backbone for biological molecules
    • C-H are non-polar bonds
    • Link up with atoms to form functional groups
  • Biological macromolecules
    • Large molecules (polymers) made of repeating subunits (monomers)

                     Carbohydrates à glucose subunits (sugars)

                     Proteins à amino acid subunits (enzymes)

                     Lipids à glycerol and fatty acid subunits (triglycerides)

                    Nucleic acids à nucleotide subunits (DNA and RNA)

                 o   Monomer must have at least 1 functional group to form a monomer

                     1 functional group è dimer

 


Related Discussions:- Organic molecules

Phases of seed formation, Phases of Seed Formation The process of seed...

Phases of Seed Formation The process of seed formation can be divided into two phases: The division phase, in which fertilised egg divides mitotically and complet

Evolution of man, EVOLUTION OF MAN - Mammals evolved from primitive...

EVOLUTION OF MAN - Mammals evolved from primitive reptiles (therapsida) in Triassic period, about 210 million years ago. Mammals existed as inconspicuous group of small

What are the typical fauna of the temperate forests, What are the typical v...

What are the typical vegetation and the typical fauna of the temperate forests? In the temperate forest deciduous trees predominate. Mammals are originated in great number, as

Typical conformation of the age pyramids, Q. What is the typical conformati...

Q. What is the typical conformation of the age pyramids of underdeveloped countries? The age pyramids of the peripheral countries or the underdeveloped countries have character

Explain fibre and cardiovascular disease (cvd), Explain Fibre and Cardiovas...

Explain Fibre and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)? The role-of dietary fibre in modulation of blood lipids was demonstrated by Keys and his co-workers in a series of experiments c

Radial artery-long term patency, Radial Artery (RA) :  Patency of...

Radial Artery (RA) :  Patency of RA is less than that of Ih4.A but much superior to a venous graft. One of the studies showed 90 per cent patency at 13 months and 83

Nucleic acids, Why is the number of bonds important in nucleic acids

Why is the number of bonds important in nucleic acids

Newton, meaning of the law of inertia

meaning of the law of inertia

What is a brain freeze, What is a brain freeze? What is commonly referr...

What is a brain freeze? What is commonly referred to as 'brain freeze' happens when you ingest something that is very cold too rapidly. When the cold touches your soft palate i

Congenital heart diseases, Congenital Heart Diseases   Congenital heart...

Congenital Heart Diseases   Congenital heart diseases are classified in many ways. One set of classification is cyanotic and acynotic conditions. Morphological classification

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd