Bio 004, College of the Desert

Organic compounds: Molecules that contain carbon "C" arranged in rings or chains.

• Carbon chains: [general equation: C_nH_2n+2]ie:
• H H H H H H
• H-C-C-C-C-C-C-H
• H H H H H H

Carbon rings: a closed chain of carbon, [general equation: C_nH_2n].

• Carbons versitility is do to:
• 1. Combine with other C's forming rings/chains.
• 2. Bond with up to four other elements: (usualy H,O and N).
• 3. Establish stable bonds do to the arrangement of electrons.
• 4. Create covalent bonds.

Hydrocarbons: Organic molecules containing only Hydrogen "H" and Carbon "C". ie: Octane C₈H₁₈

Functional Groups: Molecules that behave consistantly giving compounds unique properties.

Macromolecules: Large molecules.

Monomers: Small, individual molecules; building blocks or subunits.

Polymers: large molecules built by attaching smaller molecules together (ie: DNA).

Dehydration synthesis reaction: formation of one large macromolecule from two smaller molecules when water is removed.

Hydrolysis: Breakdown of one Large macromolecule into two smaller molecules when water is added.

Isomers: molecules that have the same molecular formulas, but different structures. ie: Glucose, galactose, fructose.

• Carbohydrates – Monosaccharides:
• Subunits: Single sugars
• Examples: glucose, fructose
• Functions: Provide cells with C skeletons for producing other organic molecules. Major fuel molecules for cellular work.

• Carbohydrates – Disaccharides:
• Subunits: double sugars (2 simple sugars).
• Examples: lactose, sucrose
• Functions: Lactose: found in dairy products Sucrose: table sugar.

• Carbohydrates – Polysaccharides:
• Subunits: complex carbohydrates (long chain of monosaccharide monomers).
• Examples: Cellulose, glycogen, starch
• Functions: Cellulose: Dietary supplement (fiber). Glycogen: animal storage form of carbs. Starch: plant storage form of carbs.

Hydrophobic: [Lipid]; (Water fearing), Not water soluble (does not dissolve in water). ie: lipids

Hydrophilic: [Lipid]; (Water loving), water soluble (dissolve in water). ie: Carbohydrates

• Lipids - Fats:
• Subunits: glycerol + 3 fatty acids.
• Examples: triglycerides.
• Functions: Storage form of energy (2X amount of carbs). Insulation for warm-blooded animals. Cushion for vital organs.

Description: Fewer than the maximum number of H’s, Double bond, Plant & fish fats; liquid at room temperature.

• Saturated fatty acid:
• Description: Maximum number of H’s, No double bond (single bonds only), Animal fats; solid at room temperature.

Steroids: Hydrophobic lipid molecule, interlocking carbon rings, ie: cholesterol, estrogen, testosterone.

• Anobolic steroid: Description: Synthetic variants of testosterone,
• Desired efx: muscle performance, enhancement,
• Side efx: violent mood swings, depression, liver damage, high cholesterol, shrunken testicles, re-duced sex drive, infertility, cancer, death

• Proteins:
• Subunits: Amino acids
• Functions: Structure (hair, skin, muscles, organs, etc.), Component of blood (hemoglobin), Component of immune system, Enzymes, some hormones, Intracellular signaling.
• Structure: 1. Carbonyl group, 2. Amino group, 3. H atoms, and 4. Radical (R) groups.

• Proteins - Monomers:
• Subuntits: Radical (R) groups
• Description: All proteins are constructed from a common set of 20 different amino acid monomers.

• Proteins - Polymers (primary):
• Subunits: repeating amino acids

• Descript: Hydrophobic lipid molecules, Interlocking carbon rings,

• Examples: cholesterol, estrogen, testosterone.

• Proteins – Polymers (other):

• Description: There are at four basic, types of protein structure, (primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary).

• Denature: to irreversibly alter the

• chemical and physical characteristics of a protein causing it to no longer
• function:

• High temperature

• Extreme pH

• Toxic chemicals

Nucleic acid:

Subunits: nucleotides

Examples: DNA, RNA

• Functions: Information storage – blueprints for

• protein synthesis (inherited from parents).

• Description: 5C sugar (deoxyribose, ribose).Phosphate

• group (PO4).Nitrogenous base (A,C,G,T):
• Base-pairing: A-T and C-G

• Differences Between
• DNA and RNA:
• DNA: Alpha Helix formation, uses Cytosine, Guanine, Adenine, and Thymine.
• RNA: Spiral shape (half the Alpha Helix), uses Cytosine, Guanine, Adenine and Uracil.