IndietroGeneral Biology: Fundamentals of Life and Cells
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Termini in questo insieme (20)
Life is a self-sustained chemical system capable of undergoing Darwinian evolution.
Life is membrane delimited, made of cells, stores and follows instructions, stores and uses energy, is self-replicating, controls functions and responds to the environment, and evolves.
Lipids form membranes that provide a selectively permeable barrier, enabling compartmentation and energy storage.
Nucleic acids store and transmit genetic information essential for replication and function.
All major biomolecules (lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, proteins) facilitate self-replication.
Energy from sunlight or organic compounds is converted into ATP, which cells use to perform work.
Proteins facilitate control of cellular functions and responses to the environment.
Evolution is the change in heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.
The cell is the smallest unit that exhibits all properties of life.
Prokaryotes have no nucleus, circular DNA, small size (0.1-5 microns), often lack membrane-bound organelles, and replicate quickly.
Eukaryotes have a nucleus, membrane-bound organelles, linear DNA organized in chromosomes, and are larger (1-100 microns).
Viruses store and follow instructions, use energy, replicate, respond, and evolve, but lack membranes and do not store energy independently.
Monomers are monosaccharides like glucose; polymers include disaccharides and polysaccharides like glycogen.
Amino acids have an amino group, carboxyl group, hydrogen, and variable side chain (R group) attached to a central carbon.
A peptide bond forms between amino acids by a dehydration reaction linking the carboxyl group of one to the amino group of another.
Common secondary structures include alpha helices and beta sheets, stabilized by hydrogen bonds.
ATP stores and transfers energy within cells to power biological processes.
Carbohydrates serve as energy sources and structural components in cells.
Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds; unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds affecting membrane fluidity.
Membranes create distinct environments for cellular processes, enabling regulation and efficiency.