1. CHAPTER 1 Chemistry is the Logic of Biological Phenomena to accompany
Biochemistry, 2/e by
Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham
All rights reserved. Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be mailed to: Permissions Department, Harcourt Brace & Company, Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, Florida

2. Outline 1.1 Distinctive Properties of Living Systems
1.2 Biomolecules: Molecules of Life
1.3 Biomolecular Hierarchy
1.4 Properties of Biomolecules
1.5 Organization and Structure of Cells
1.6 Viruses as Cell Parasites

3. On Life and Chemistry...
“Living things are composed of lifeless molecules” (Albert Lehninger)
“Chemistry is the logic of biological phenomena” (Garrett and Grisham)

4. 1.1 Distinctive Properties of Living Systems
Organisms are complicated and highly organized
Biological structures serve functional purposes
Living systems are actively engaged in energy transformations
Living systems have a remarkable capacity for self-replication

8. 1.2 Biomolecules: The Molecules of Life
H, O, C and N make up 99+% of atoms in the human body
ELEMENT PERCENTAGE
Oxygen
Hydrogen
Carbon
Nitrogen

9. 1.2 Biomolecules: The Molecules of Life
What property unites H, O, C and N and renders these atoms so appropriate to the chemistry of life?
Answer: Their ability to form covalent bonds by electron-pair sharing.

10. 1.2 Biomolecules: The Molecules of Life
What are the bond energies of covalent bonds?
Bond Energy kJ/mol
H-H
C-H
C-C
C-O

13. 1.3 A Biomolecular Hierarchy
Simple Molecules are the Units for Building Complex Structures
Metabolites and Macromolecules
Organelles
Membranes
The Unit of Life is the Cell

15. 1.4 Properties of Biomolecules Reflect Their Fitness to the Living Condition
Macromolecules and Their Building Blocks Have a “Sense” or Directionality
Macromolecules are Informational
Biomolecules Have Characteristic Three-Dimensional Architecture
Weak Forces Maintain Biological Structure and Determine Biomolecular Interactions

21. 1.4 Properties of Biomolecules Reflect Their Fitness to the Living Condition
Important numbers!
van der Waals: kJ/mole
Hydrogen bonds: kJ/mole
Ionic bonds: 20 kJ/mole
Hydrophobic interactions: <40 kJ/mole

23. Two Important Points About Weak Forces
Biomolecular Recognition is Mediated by Weak Chemical Forces
Weak Forces Restrict Organisms to a Narrow Range of Environmental Conditions

28. Organization and Structure of Cells
Prokaryotic cells
A single (plasma) membrane
no nucleus or organelles
Eukaryotic cells
much larger in size than prokaryotes
times larger!
Nucleus plus many organelles
ER, Golgi, mitochondria, etc.