Revision questions on Topic 2.1. From Molecules to Metabolism

Revision questions 2.1. Molecular Biology
Dr. Miltiadis Kitsos, DP Biology, Platon School, mailto:miltiadis@stepsinbiology.com;
http://www.stepsinbiology.com
Understandings, Applications and Skills
Understandings:
 Molecular biology explains living processes in terms of the chemical substances involved.
 Carbon atoms can form four covalent bonds allowing a diversity of stable compounds to
exist.
 Life is based on carbon compounds including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic
acids.
 Metabolism is the web of all the enzyme-catalysed reactions in a cell or organism.
 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
Applications and skills:
• 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.

Molecular biology explains living processes in terms of the chemical substances involved
1. Explain the reductionist approach that molecular biologists use.
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2. Explain how the reductionist approach contrasts the concept of emerging properties in
biology.
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Urea as an example of a compound that is produced by living organisms but can also be
artificially synthesized.
3. Urea is produced in the liver but is also produced artificially. Distinguish between the two
processes and outline their purpose.
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4. Define vitalism and explain how the artificial synthesis of urea falsified the theory of
vitalism.
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Carbon atoms can form four covalent bonds allowing a diversity of stable compounds to
exist.

5. State the name of the bond shown with the arrow.
Figure 1: Methane http://www.gcsescience.com/Methane-Molecule.gif
6. Using information from question 6 state how many of these bonds may be formed by any
carbon atom.
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7. Explain how the properties of carbon are related to the diversity of carbon compounds.
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Life is based on carbon compounds including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic
acids.
8. Compare the basic features of the following macromoleculues
Name Participating
elements
Building blocks Categories Functions in
living organisms
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Lipids
Nucleic acids
Skill: Drawing molecular diagrams of glucose, ribose, a saturated fatty acid and a
generalized amino acid.

9. The carbon skeletons of a glucose and ribose molecule are given below. Based on the
skeletons, draw the molecular formulas of the two molecules
10. Draw a saturated, unsaturated and a polyunsaturated fatty acid.
Skill: Identification of biochemicals such as sugars, lipids or amino acids from molecular
diagrams.
11.Identify the following chemical groups
R-O-H
R-CH3
O
C
CC
C
C
Fructose
Glucose

12.Identify which of following molecules is an amino acid, a fatty acid and a carbohydrate.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/L-Phenylalanin_-_L-
Phenylalanine.svg/232px-L-Phenylalanin_-_L-Phenylalanine.svg.png
http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/linoleic/linoleic.gif
http://www.wpclipart.com/science/atoms_molecules/molecules/fructose.png

13.Identify the following molecules
https://courses.washington.edu/conj/membrane/fattyacid.png
https://courses.washington.edu/conj/membrane/fattyacid.png
http://www.mathima.be/ftp/organischeverbindingen/glycerol.png
https://dlc.dcccd.edu/images/biology/lesson3/dipeptide.jpg

Metabolism is the web of all the enzyme-catalysed reactions in a cell or organism.
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.
14.Define metabolism
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15.State which of the following processes are mainly anabolic or catabolic
Photosynthesis
Synthesis of polypeptides
at the ribosomes
Digestion of proteins
Cellular respiration
16.Distinguish between anabolism and catabolism
Anabolism Catabolism
Purpose
Types of reactions (e.g.,
hydrolysis, condensation)
Energetics (energy yield or
consumption)
Examples

17. Study the following reaction
http://hammerstedt-amy-e-
f.brsd.high.schoolfusion.us/modules/locker/files/get_group_file.phtml?gid=3418425&fid=26808529
(a) State the general chemical group of the reactants.
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(b) State the name of the common chemical groups in all reactants.
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(c) State whether this is an anabolic or catabolic reaction. Explain your choice
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(d) State whether this is a condensation or a hydrolysis reaction. Explain your choice
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18. State which of the following is a hydrolysis or a condensation reaction.
http://hammerstedt-amy-e-
f.brsd.high.schoolfusion.us/modules/locker/files/get_group_file.phtml?gid=3418425&fid=26808529
A: ……………………………………………………………………………………
Β: ……………………………………………………………………………………
C: ……………………………………………………………………………………

References:
Allott, Andrew. Biology: Course Companion. S.l.: Oxford UP, 2014. Print.
Paine, Chris . “BioKnowledgy DP Notes 2.1 Molecules to metabolism” Web. 11 Nov 2016.
<http://www.slideshare.net/diverzippy/bio-k-dp-notes-
21?ref=http://www.bioknowledgy.info/21-molecules-to-metabolism.html>

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