BIF101 Midterm Notes Lectures 1-75

1-Unit of Life

All organisms are composed of cells the basic unit of life and all cells come from preexisting cells Life=collection of macromolecules that can perform unique functions because the are enclosed in structural compartment that provides consistency (homeostasis).

2-Composition of Matter =

Carbon Atom

Electronegativity =The tendency of an atom to attract electrons towards itself. Polarity of H2O

Ionic Bond=

3-Molecules of Life

Composition of Life Polymers & Monomers=Macromolecules are polymers of smaller monomers molecules Condensation reactions: Monomers join H2O Removal Hydrolysis reactions: Use water to break polymers into monomers.

Condensation & Hydrolysis

4-Journey into the Cell

View animation

5-Size Matters

Cell Structure=Cells are small to maintain large surface area to volume ratio Prokaryotic Cells=No membrane enclosed internal compartments. Plasma membrane regulates traffic (barrier). Nucleoid region contains DNA. Most have cell wall. Special Features=Cyanobacteria Chlorophyll containing have folds of plasma membrane, other have mesosomes (energy). Some have actin like filaments and other have Flagella made-up of Flagellin

6-The Nucleus

Nuclear EMs

Chromatin=Euchromatin , Hetrochromatin , Chromosome

7- Introduction to Molecular Biology

•  Molecular Biology
•  (BIO-302)
•  In the broader terms, definition of molecular biology includes all aspects of the study of life from a molecular perspective.
•  More precisely, the term “Molecular Biology” refers to the biology of the molecules related to genes, gene products and heredity.

 In other words, the term molecular biology is often substituted for a more appropriate term, Molecular Genetics. So molecular biology grew out of the disciplines of genetics and biochemistry.  In the present age, world is in the midst of two scientific revolutions. One is information technology and the other is Molecular Biology.  Both deal with the handling of large amounts of information.  Molecular Biology has revolutionized the biological sciences as well especially in the fields of Health Sciences and Agricultural Sciences.

8- History of Molecular Biology

 Molecular Biology takes its roots mainly from the the disciplines of Genetics and Biochemistry. Some important discoveries which led to the emergence of Molecular Biology as a discipline include:- Biochemistry

•  Synthesis of Urea by Friedrich Wohler (1828).
•  The first enzyme diastase was discovered by Anselme Payen in 1833.