1.1 Biological Molecules
Be prepared to discuss:
(a) The main elements found in living organisms. Some elements are needed in trace amounts (details not required). Key elements are present as inorganic ions: Mg2+, Fe2+, Ca2+, PO43–. The importance of water in terms of its polarity, ability to form hydrogen bonds, surface tension, as a solvent, thermal properties, as a metabolite.
(b) Structure, properties and functions of carbohydrates: monosaccharides (triose, pentose, hexose sugars); disaccharides (sucrose, lactose, maltose); polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin). Alpha and beta structural isomerism in glucose resulting in storage and structural carbohydrates as illustrated by starch, cellulose and chitin. Chemical properties enabling the use of starch and glycogen as storage and cellulose and chitin as structural compounds.
(c) Structure, properties and functions of lipids as illustrated by triglycerides and phospholipids. Implications of saturated and unsaturated fat on human health.
(d) Structure and role of amino acids and proteins. The peptide link. Relation of molecular structure to function.
Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins. Globular and fibrous proteins Candidates should be able to use given structural formulae (proteins, triglycerides and carbohydrates) to show how bonds are formed and broken by condensation and hydrolysis, including peptide, glycosidic and ester bonds. (Candidates should be able to recognise and understand but not reproduce the structural formulae of the above molecules).
(a) The main elements found in living organisms. Some elements are needed in trace amounts (details not required). Key elements are present as inorganic ions: Mg2+, Fe2+, Ca2+, PO43–. The importance of water in terms of its polarity, ability to form hydrogen bonds, surface tension, as a solvent, thermal properties, as a metabolite.
(b) Structure, properties and functions of carbohydrates: monosaccharides (triose, pentose, hexose sugars); disaccharides (sucrose, lactose, maltose); polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin). Alpha and beta structural isomerism in glucose resulting in storage and structural carbohydrates as illustrated by starch, cellulose and chitin. Chemical properties enabling the use of starch and glycogen as storage and cellulose and chitin as structural compounds.
(c) Structure, properties and functions of lipids as illustrated by triglycerides and phospholipids. Implications of saturated and unsaturated fat on human health.
(d) Structure and role of amino acids and proteins. The peptide link. Relation of molecular structure to function.
Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins. Globular and fibrous proteins Candidates should be able to use given structural formulae (proteins, triglycerides and carbohydrates) to show how bonds are formed and broken by condensation and hydrolysis, including peptide, glycosidic and ester bonds. (Candidates should be able to recognise and understand but not reproduce the structural formulae of the above molecules).
Probably the coolest video you've ever seen about water...
In Our Time Radio 4 programme on Water
Online tutorial on the properties of water
Click on the link below for all the powerpoints and worksheets from lessonsGood revision powerpoint on Proteins and Lipids
Online notes on Carbohydrates and ProteinsCrash Course Biology - WaterThis includes the structure of nucleic acids - useful for unit 1.6.
Bozeman Biology - Lipids |
Crash Course Biology - Carbohydrates, Proteins and LipidsBozeman Biology - ProteinsBozeman Biology - CarbohydratesPresentation aimed at AS students on CarbohydratesSimilar thing about Proteins |