INTRODUCTION Biochemistry 11/18/2018 INTRODUCTION Biochemistry An Introduction to the Chemistry of Life for Biology Students Dr Seemal Jelani
11/18/2018 What is Life Made of? Everything is made up of atoms. Living things are made up of cells. Cells are made up of atoms. Dr Seemal Jelani
Six different elements (atoms) make up 98% of all living things: 11/18/2018 Atoms Six different elements (atoms) make up 98% of all living things: Hydrogen Oxygen Carbon Nitrogen Phosphorous Calcium Dr Seemal Jelani
11/18/2018 Dr Seemal Jelani
Definition: A molecule is two or more atoms combined. 11/18/2018 Molecules Definition: A molecule is two or more atoms combined. CO2 C6H12O6 C8H10N4O2 H2O Dr Seemal Jelani
11/18/2018 Organic Chemistry What makes Carbon Special? Carbon atoms can bond together to form long chains and complex rings. Dr Seemal Jelani
Carbon can form immensely diverse compounds, from simple to complex. 11/18/2018 Carbon can form immensely diverse compounds, from simple to complex. Complex Molecule Simple Molecule DNA with tens of Billions of Carbon atoms Methane with 1 Carbon atom Dr Seemal Jelani
4 main molecules involved in life 11/18/2018 Biomolecules Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic Acids 4 main molecules involved in life Dr Seemal Jelani
11/18/2018 Polymers and Monomers Biomolecules are macromolecules. Macromolecules are Polymers made up of Monomers. Dr Seemal Jelani
11/18/2018 Monomers Monomer Monosaccharide (sugar) Hydrocarbon chains Amino acids Nucleotides Macromolecule Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic acids Dr Seemal Jelani
11/18/2018 Carbohydrates Made of: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms Job: provide living things with energy Examples: sugars and starches (corn, rice, potato, bread) Dr Seemal Jelani
11/18/2018 Lipids Made of: long chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms (with some oxygen). Job: store energy, repel water Examples: fats and oils (butter, cheese, oil) Dr Seemal Jelani
Saturated vs. Unsaturated Fat 11/18/2018 Saturated vs. Unsaturated Fat Dr Seemal Jelani
Made of: Nitrogen, Carbon, Hydrogen, and other atoms 11/18/2018 Proteins Made of: Nitrogen, Carbon, Hydrogen, and other atoms Job: Many different jobs in our bodies Examples: Enzymes, muscles, hair Dr Seemal Jelani
11/18/2018 Nucleic Acids Made of: Phosphorous, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Hydrogen atoms Job: Store genetic information Examples: DNA, RNA Dr Seemal Jelani