Learn and test your biological vocabulary for topic 2.1 molecules to metabolism using these flashcards.
Summary list for 2.1 Molecules to metabolism
Carbon based compounds
- 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 in drawing molecules
- 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.
Mindmaps
This diagram summaries the main sections of topic 2.1.
Test if you can draw something like these concept maps from memory.
Even better, design your own.
The ability to draw monosaccharide molecules is an important skill in this topic.
Answer the question below, on a piece of paper, then check your answer against the model answer below.
The image shows a diagram of deoxyribose which is a molecule made from five carbon molecules.
Distinguish between the structure of deoxyribose and the structure of αD-glucose.
(A labelled diagram may be used in the answer). [3]
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Click the + icon to see a model answer.
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This is a self marking quiz containing questions covering the topic outlined above.
Try the questions to check your understanding.
START QUIZ!
Which of the following processes could be described as catabolism?
Anabolism is building up of large complex molecules from smaller simple units (Hint to remember: anacondas are long snakes).
Catabolism is the breakdown of large complex molecules into smaller ones.
These reactions are classified as anabolic or catabolic depending on whether they make bigger molecules from small ones, or vice versa.
Which of the following molecules contains only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms?
Carbohydrates, lipids and phospholipids do not contain nitrogen.
Amino acids and DNA contain nitrogen.
What did the theory of vitalism propose about organic molecules?
The formation of urea, known since 1773 experiments where the synthesis of an organic compound from two inorganic molecules was achieved for the first time weakened significantly the vitalistic hypothesis.
This hypothesis proposed that could not be synthesised from inorganic components.
Which of the following correctly identifies the monomers which make a polysaccharide molecule.
Polysaccharides are composed of a chain of simple sugar molecules, like glucose.
Which one of the molecule diagrams below correctly represents an amino acid molecule?
Note: in amino acids there is always an NH2 and a COOH and one R group
What type of molecule is shown by the model below?
Fatty acids have a long chain of carbon atoms surrounded by hydrogen and a carboxyl "COOH" group at the end.
This is a steroid molecule, testosterone.
As a lipid it has mostly carbon and hydrogen, and just two oxygen molecules.
To test for starch which of the following points best describes the procedure?
Benedict's reagent is used to test for reducing sugars.
Iodine is used to test for Starch - and turns blue / black
The image below shows the results of a chemical test for a biological molecule.
What is the test and which molecule does this positive result show the presence of?
Benedict's reagent turns from a blue colour to an orange / red colour in the presence of a reducing sugar.
There are about 20 different amino acids found in living organisms and each has a different molecular structure in the R-group.
This can be a simple -H atom, in alanine, -CH3 or a more complicated structure.
Drag and drop activities
Test your ability to construct biological explanations using the drag and drop questions below.
Test your construction of biological knowledge using the drag and drop questions below.
Metabolism
Drag and drop the correct term into the gap to describe metabolism, anabolism and catabolism.
protein catalysed hydrolysis Anabolism complex water smaller sum water simpler condensation
Metabolism is the of all the enzyme chemical reactions occurring in a cell.
is the synthesis of complex molecules from molecules e.g. synthesis from amino acids. It occurs by reactions between monomers to produce polymers and .
Catabolism is the breakdown of molecules into simpler molecules. It occurs by where the addition of to a chemical bond causes lysis (breaking) of the bond and the polymer breaks down into units.
Explanation/Examiner hint.Metabolism = Anabolism + Catabolism. Polymers are formed by condensation and broken down by hydrolysis.Your understanding of metabolism will improve as it reoccurs throughout the syllabus content.
Click the '+' symbol to open the next explanation.
Peptide bonds, dipeptides and polypeptides.
Drag and drop the correct term into the gap to describe peptide bonds, dipeptides and polypeptides.
function polypeptide multiple amide variable different peptide 20 dipeptide
An amino acid contains an group, an acid group and a portion (the R group).
Two amino acids can condense to form a joined by a bond. A large number of amino acids can condense to form a chain.
Proteins can be single or polypeptide chains
There is a great diversity of structure and in proteins due to the fact that there are amino acid monomers that can be assembled in sequences.
Examiner hint: You need to be able to recognise polypeptides and protein structure as a chain of amino acids.
Everyone needs something a bit light hearted from time to time when revising. That's the aim of this last activity.
Molecules to metabolism arcade games
How much of Molecules to metabolism 2.1 have you understood?
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