1. Essential idea:
Living organisms control their composition by a complex web of chemical reactions.

2. Understandings:
Molecular biology explains living processes in terms of the chemical substances involved.
This is a reductionist approach --(breaking things down into their component parts)
This approach has given us insights into whole organism
However, this approach is limited because when components are combined unique and possibly unpredicatble properties arise (emergent properties)

3. Understandings:
Molecular biology explains living processes in terms of the chemical substances involved.
Below is an example of one chemical reaction that take place in the body, that is the formation of urea, which the primary constituent of urine

4. Understandings:
Carbon atoms can form four covalent bonds allowing a diversity of stable compounds to exist.

5. Organisms are composed of matter
Matter consists of chemical elements in pure form and in combinations called compounds
Organisms are composed of matter
Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass
Matter is made up of elements

6. Elements and Compounds
An element is a substance that cannot be broken down to other substances by chemical reactions
A compound is a substance consisting of two or more elements in a fixed ratio

7. Sodium
Chlorine
Sodium chloride

8. An element’s properties depend on the structure of its atoms
Each element consists of unique atoms
An atom is the smallest unit of matter that still retains the properties of an element

9. Essential Elements of Life
About 25 of the 92 elements are essential to life
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen make up 99% of living matter
Most of the remaining 1% consists of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron and sulfur

10. Organic Compounds
Organic Compounds are compounds containing carbon found in living things
BUT there are exceptions are classified as NON-organic
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Carbon Monoxide(CO).
Hydrogen Carbonates (HCO3- )
Organic compounds are based on carbon and are found in living things. There are a number of exceptions including
hydrogen carbonate (HCO3- ), carbon dioxide (CO2 )and Carbon monoxide (CO).
Inorganic compounds are by default all the molecules other than those in the category above.

11. Overview: Carbon—The Backbone of Biological Molecules
Although cells are 70–95% water, the rest consists mostly of carbon-based compounds
Carbon is unparalleled in its ability to form large, complex, and diverse molecules
Proteins, DNA, carbohydrates, and other molecules that distinguish living matter are all composed of carbon compounds

12. Concept 4.2: Carbon atoms can form diverse molecules by bonding to four other atoms
Electron configuration is the key to an atom’s characteristics
Electron configuration determines the kinds and number of bonds an atom will form with other atoms
Remember the OCTET RULE!! All atoms lose/ gain/ share electrons so they can get 8 electrons on their outer shell

13. The Formation of Bonds with Carbon
With four valence electrons, carbon can form four covalent bonds with a variety of atoms
This tetravalence (4 valence electrons) makes large, complex molecules possible

14. In molecules with multiple carbons, each carbon bonded to four other atoms has a tetrahedral shape
However, when two carbon atoms are joined by a double bond, the molecule has a flat shape

15. In molecules with multiple carbons, each carbon bonded to four other atoms has a tetrahedral shape
However, when two carbon atoms are joined by a double bond, the molecule has a flat shape
Molecular
Formula
Structural
Formula
Ball-and-Stick
Model
Space-Filling
Model

16. Molecular Diversity Arising from Carbon Skeleton Variation
Carbon chains form the skeletons of most organic molecules
Carbon chains vary in length and shape
Ethane
Propane
Length
Butane
2-methylpropane
(commonly called isobutane)
Branching
1-Butene
2-Butene
Double bonds
Cyclohexane
Benzene
Rings

17. Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons are organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen
Many organic molecules, such as fats, have hydrocarbon components
Hydrocarbons can undergo reactions that release a large amount of energy

18. Combustion of Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons can undergo reactions that release a large amount of energy

19. Understandings:
Metabolism is the web of all the enzyme-catalysed reactions in a cell or organism.
Enzymes are biologically synthesized proteins that speed up a chemical reaction without changing/ reacting themselves.

20. What is an Enzyme? globular proteins
catalysts which speed up biological reactions
unchanged by the reaction
specific to their substrate
active site is the position on the enzyme occupied by the substrate
affected by temperature and pH

21. Organization of the Chemistry of Life into Metabolic Pathways
A metabolic pathway begins with a specific molecule and ends with a product
Each step is catalyzed by a specific enzyme
What is an enzyme animaiton:

22. Understandings:
Anabolism is the synthesis of complex molecules from simpler molecules including the formation of macromolecules from monomers by condensation reactions.
Catabolism is the breakdown of complex molecules into simpler molecules including the hydrolysis of macromolecules into monomers.

23. Hydrolysis vs. Condensation
Adds water
Breaks down polymers into monomers
Catabolic
Breaks down complex molecules into simpler molecules
Example: Breaks down starch into glucose
Condensation
Removes water
Forms new bonds between monomers forming polymers
Anabolic
Forms more complex molecules from simpler ones.
Example: glucose and fructose are bonded together to form sucrose

24. 4 Types of Condensation (dehydration) Reactions
Occurs between monosaccharide and forms disaccharides and polysaccharides
Occurs between glycerol and fatty acids and forms monoglycerides
Occurs between monoglycerides and forms di- and tri-glycerides
Occurs between amino acids and forms polypeptides (proteins)

25. Condensation (dehydration) Reaction in carbohydrates
glucose
glucose
Starch
Sucrose
glucose
Fructose

26. Condensation reaction of amino acids to form polypeptides (proteins)

27. Condensation monoglycerides

28. 4 types of hydrolysis reactions
Breakdown of disaccharide or polysaccharides into monosaccharide
Breakdown of monoglycerides into glycerol and a fatty acid
Breakdown of diglycerides and triglycerides into monoglycerides
Breakdown of a polypeptide (protein) into amino acids.

29. Hydrolysis of sucrose (dissacharide)

30. Hydrolysis of Maltose

31. Hydrolysis of a dipeptide

32. Understandings
Life is based on carbon compounds including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.

33. Below is the structure of a LIPID
Ester linkage
Fat molecule (triacylglycerol)

34. Molecular Protein Structure

35. Carbohydrate structure

36. Nucleic acid Structure

37. Skills & Applications
Application: Urea as an example of a compound that is produced by living organisms but can also be artificially synthesized.
Skill: Drawing molecular diagrams of glucose, ribose, a saturated fatty acid and a generalized amino acid.
Skill: Identification of biochemicals such as sugars, lipids or amino acids from molecular diagrams.

38. Nature of Science
Falsification of theories—the artificial synthesis of urea helped to falsify vitalism.