1. Chemistry of Life

2. CHNOPS

3. Molecules
When you put atoms together such as hydrogen and oxygen, you get molecules: Water.
The same is true for CHNOPS. These 5 atoms can rearrange themselves in all sorts of combinations to form the basic building blocks of all living organisms: MACROMOLECULES
Macro = Large
Macromolecules = Large Molecules
Life is made of 4 basic macromolecules:
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Lipids
Nucleic acids
You need to know these!

4. Role of Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates perform numerous roles in living organisms.
Key source of energy storage and transportation
Animals: glycogen
Plants: starch
Key part in structure of DNA, immune system, fertilization, disease prevention, blood clotting , and development.

5. Monosaccharide
Disaccharide
Polysaccharide

6. Carbohydrates and Starch
What foods contain carbohydrates?
Starch is a carbohydrate (polysaccharide) produced by most green plants. Its how plants store energy (end product of photosynthesis).
It is the most common carbohydrate in the human diet.
Pure starch is a white, tasteless and odorless powder.
Starch is processed to produce many of the sugars in processed foods.
The biggest industrial non-food use of starch is as adhesive in the papermaking process (sticky when wet). Starch can be applied to parts of some garments before ironing, to stiffen them.
What foods contain starch?

7. Role of Lipids Aka: fats Provide organisms with: Nutrients
Energy storage (whale blubber?)
Create cell membrane
Signaling molecules (ex: hormones)
Are lipids soluble (mix) in water?

8. Lipids and the Cell Membrane
Phospholipids
Lipid (non-polar)+Phosphate (polar)

9. Role of Proteins
Antibodies – identify and help organisms defend against foreign invaders (virus, bacteria)

10. Enzymes: Proteins that facilitate biochemical reactions.
They are often referred to as catalysts because they speed up chemical reactions.
Examples include the enzymes lactase and pepsin. Lactase breaks down the sugar lactose found in milk. Pepsin is a digestive enzyme that works in the stomach to break down proteins in food.

11. Hormones - messenger proteins which help to coordinate certain bodily activities.
Examples include insulin, oxytocin, and somatotropin. Insulin allows cells to absorb glucose. Oxytocin stimulates contractions in females during childbirth. Somatotropin is a growth hormone that stimulates protein production in muscle cells.

12. Structural Proteins - are fibrous and stringy and provide support
Structural Proteins - are fibrous and stringy and provide support. Examples include keratin, collagen, and elastin. Keratins strengthen protective coverings such as hair, quills, feathers, horns, and beaks. Collagens and elastin provide support for connective tissues such as tendons and ligaments.
Transport Proteins - are carrier proteins which move molecules from one place to another around the body. Examples include hemoglobin and cytochromes. Hemoglobin transports oxygen through the blood. Cytochromes operate in the electron transport chain as electron carrier proteins

13. Proteins are composed of Amino Acids
There are 22 amino acids
10 of which are considered “essential” body cannot make them. Must be obtained from other organisms.
Combined in different ways, there are hundreds of amino acids intermediates performing tasks throughout your body which are commonly known as “metabolic pathways.”  

14. 200-300 amino acids linked together
Single Amino Acid
amino acids linked together
Polar/Nonpolar
+ or -
Fold in on each other

15. Metabolic Pathways – series of chemical reactions that occur in the cell

16. Nucleic Acids
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)

17. Our bodies are made of organic compounds
derived from living matter
compounds containing carbon
Fructose
Glucose
Our bodies are made of organic compounds