Molecular Biology
This chapter covers the fundamental concepts of molecular biology, including the properties of water, the structure and function of macromolecules, enzyme activity, DNA structure and replication, transcription and translation, and cellular respiration and photosynthesis. Each topic addresses how these biological molecules and processes contribute to life and energy conversions essential for organisms.
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Sections
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What we have learnt
- Water's unique properties are crucial for biochemical processes and life.
- Macromolecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids play vital roles in structure and function in living organisms.
- Enzymes are biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions and are influenced by various factors.
Key Concepts
- -- Water Properties
- Water's polarity, cohesion, adhesion, high specific heat, and latent heat of vaporization make it an essential solvent for biochemical processes.
- -- Macromolecules
- Large biological molecules consisting of smaller units such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids that serve various functions in living organisms.
- -- Enzymes
- Proteins that act as biological catalysts to speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy.
- -- DNA Structure
- The structure consists of two strands forming a double helix with a sugar-phosphate backbone and complementary base pairing.
- -- Transcription and Translation
- Processes that convert DNA into proteins; transcription involves creating mRNA from DNA, and translation involves synthesizing proteins from mRNA.
- -- Cellular Respiration
- The process of converting glucose into ATP, occurring through aerobic and anaerobic pathways.
- -- Photosynthesis
- The process plants use to convert light energy into chemical energy stored as glucose through light-dependent and light-independent reactions.
Additional Learning Materials
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