BIOLOGY:

• CHEMISTRY OF LIFE• Presentation by D.T Nyalunga• University of johannesburg, 2012

Element

An element is a substance that cannot be broken down to other substances by ordinary chemical means.

98% of living matter is made of Carbon Hydrogen Nitrogen Oxygen Phosphorus Sulfur

Molecules of Life

Molecules of life are synthesized by living cells Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic acids (madel, 2009)

Carbohydrates

Nucleic Acids

Proteins

Lipids

What are the 4 major macromolecules that make up all cells?

Organic Compounds

Consist primarily of carbon and hydrogen atoms Carbon atoms bond covalently with up to four

other atoms, often in long chains or rings

Functional groups attach to a carbon backbone Influence organic compound’s properties

Carbohydrates - sugars• Carbohydrates are made up of

monomers call monosaccharide (one sugar)

• carbo-: sounds like carbon• -hydrate: means something combined

with water• General formula for carbohydrates:

CnH2nOn

(Sharafeddin, 2010)

Carbohydrates – The Most Abundant Ones

Three main types of carbohydrates Monosaccharides (simple sugars) Oligosaccharides (short chains) Polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates)

Carbohydrate functions Instant energy sources Transportable or storable forms of energy Structural materials

Dehydration synthesis and Hydrolysis

(http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/scale)

Greasy, Oily – Must Be Lipids

Lipids Fats, phospholipids, waxes, and sterols Don’t dissolve in water Dissolve in nonpolar substances (other lipids)

Lipid functions Major sources of energy Structural materials Used in cell membranes

Triglyceride Formation

(williamson, 2010)

Nucleic Acids – DNA/RNA

• Nucleic acids are made of monomers called nucleotides

• Nucleotides link together by dehydration reactions

(JessicaSandel, 2011)

• Each Nucleotide has 3 main parts

Nucleic Acids – DNA/RNA

Absorption of Carbohydrates & Amino acids

Two main mechanisms of absorption : 1-facilitative transport ; with the gradient

2- active transport ; against the gradient .

Bibliography http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/scale. (n.d.).

JessicaSandel. (2011). molecule of life. chicago.

madel, c. (2009). molecule of life. u.k.

Sharafeddin, O. (2010). absorption of amino acids and carbohydrates. u.k.

williamson, J. (2010). Molecule of life. johannesburg: Pearson international.