1. Biomolecules and Cells

2. Elements of Life
A few major elements make up virtually all living things
Roughly 96% of an organism’s mass (including humans) is composed of just 4 elements
Oxygen
Carbon
Hydrogen
Nitrogen

3. Elements of Life
Together, these 4 elements combine to make up almost all of the major organic and inorganic compounds in our bodies.
The need for more of these elements to grow, reproduce, and make and use energy underlies almost all of the competition and struggles of life

4. Elements of Life
Organic compounds always contain 1 key element ?

5. Elements of Life Organic compounds always contain 1 key element ?
Carbon
Though not all carbon containing compounds are organic

6. Elements of Life
Important Inorganic Compounds in the body?

7. Elements of Life Important Inorganic Compounds in the body?
H2O (typically 60-80% of living things)
CO2 Fe
Minerals (Bones, teeth)
Salts and Ion Electrolytes

8. Elements of Life
Important Organic Compounds in the body?

9. Elements of Life Important Organic Compounds in the body?
Key Organic compounds typically fall under classes of Macromolecules:
Proteins
Nucleic Acids
Carbohydrates
Lipids

10. Elements of Life- Proteins
Proteins are long, heavy organic compounds that have a function and whose function depends on the 3-D structure of the molecule(s)
Proteins are polymers (polypeptides) made up of amino acid monomers bonded together to form a chain

11. Elements of Life- Proteins
Proteins consist primarily of C,H, O, & N
Also contain S (only macromolecule group that does…)
The protein structure is determined by the sequence of amino acids, which is determined by the genetic sequence of DNA.
This causes the protein to fold in certain ways to give the protein its 3-D conformation
Proteins are made using RNA in a process called Translation

12. Elements of Life- Proteins
Protein functions include:
Structural support for cells and tissues
Energy production, storage, and consumption (Metabolism)
Signaling
Hormones, signal peptides, immune system
Enzymes
Chemical catalysts that increase reaction speed, or help the reaction to occur in the first place

13. Elements of Life- Nucleic Acids
Nucleic Acids chains consist of nucleotides which consist of:
Nitrogenous Base (A,C,G,T)
Sugar molecule (deoxyribose or ribose- hence the name)
Phosphate backbone (negatively charged)
Genetic information encoded in DNA
Expressed from DNA to RNA in Transcription

14. Elements of Life- Nucleic Acids
Nucleic Acids consist mainly of C,H,O,N and P due to the phosphate backbone
In humans and other Eukaryotes, the DNA is stored in the cell inside a membrane bound organelle called the Nucleus

15. Elements of Life- Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are hydrates of Carbon. This means they have the general formula (CH2O)n
Consist only of C,H, and O. Lack the other elements except in rare cases
Exist as monomers (single sugars) or polymers of sugars (disaccharides and polysaccharides)
Disaccharides have two monomers (Sucrose)
Polysaccharides have many monomers (Starch)

16. Elements of Life- Carbohydrates
Cellulose is the most abundant organic compound on Earth.
Consists of glucose molecules bound together to form a polymer
Forms wood, bark, leaves, and other fibrous structures in plants
Why isn’t it easily digested like glucose or other starches?

17. Elements of Life- Carbohydrates
Image from FAMU

18. Elements of Life- Lipids
Diverse group of compounds that share the main characteristic of being non-polar, hydrophobic
Main functions are in cell membranes, energy storage, and steroid hormones
Consist primarily of C and H, with some O and P

19. Elements of Life- Lipids
Cell membranes consist mainly of phospholipids
These compounds contain a non-polar lipid “tail” end, and a polar “head” end consisting of a phosphate ion
In water, phospholipids align to create a bilayer that is polar on the surfaces and non-polar in the interior

20. Cells and Levels of Organization
Cells are the smallest unit of life that can act independently and have all of the characteristics of living things
Eukaryotes: Membrane bound Nucleus and organelles- Plants, Animals, Fungi, protists
Prokaryotes: No membrane bound organelles or nucleus. Typically single celled- Bacteria and Archaea

21. Cells and Levels of Organization
In Eurkaryotes, matter is organized into increasingly complex levels that allow for more complex roles and functions.
Atoms-> Molecules -> Macromolecules-> Organelles -> Cells -> Tissues -> Organs -> Organ Systems -> Organism

22. Questions ?