BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES

Question:.  What is Biochemistry? What is the significance of biochemistry?

Answer:.   Definition of Biochemistry

Biochemistry is a branch of biology which deals with the study of chemical components and the chemical process taking place in living organisms.

Significance of Biochemistry :.

A basic knowledge of biochemistry is helpful in understanding anatomy and physiology because all of the structures of an organism have biochemical organization. The processes like photosynthesis biochemical terms.

Question:.   What are the major types of chemical compounds found in the living organisms?

Answer:.       Types of chemical compounds

All living things are composed of certain chemical compounds which ate of two types:

1.      Organic Compounds

Most important organic compounds in living organisms are carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids.

2.      Inorganic Compounds

Most important inorganic substance are water, carbon dioxide, acids bases and salts.

Question:.   Give approximate chemical composition of typical bacterial cell and mammalian cell.

Answer:.     Chemical Composition of Protoplasm

Typically an animal and a bacterial cell consist of chemicals as shown in the following table:

Chemical Components	% total cell weight
	Bacterial cell	Mammalian cell
1.    Water 2.    Proteins 3.    Carbohydrates 4.    Lipids 5.    DNA 6.    RNA 7.    Other organic molecules (Enzymes, Hormones, Metabolites) 8.    Inorganic ions	70 15 3 2 1 6 2 1	70 18 4 3 0.25 1.1 2 1

Question:.   What is metabolism?

Answer:.     Metabolism

(1)    The survival of an organism depends upon its ability to take some chemicals from its environment and use them to make chemicals of its living matter.
(2)    Therefore, cells of every organism  are constantly taking in new substance of its living matter.
(3)    Life of an organism depends upon the ceaseless chemical activities in its cells.
(4)    The chemical activity is maintained with a high degree of organization.
(5)    All the chemical reactions taking place within a cell are collectively known as metabolism or metabolic reaction.
(6)    Metabolic processes include both anabolism and catabolism.
(7)   The reaction in which simpler substances are combined to form complex substances are called anabolism or anabolic reactions. Anabolic reaction needs energy.
(8)     Interconversion of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids that occur continuously in living cells are complex of co-ordinated  catabolic and anabolic activities.
Note: Anabolism:
The reaction in which simpler substances are combined to form complex substances are called anabolism or anabolic reactions. Anabolic reactions need energy.

Catabolism:

The reactions in which complex molecules are broken down into simpler ones are called catabolism or catabolic reactions. Energy is released in these reactions