AEV Biology - Unit One Summary

Jul 18, 2024

International AEV Biology Content for Aexel - Unit One

1. General Overview

  • All chapters covered in Unit One
  • PowerPoint available in the description
  • Focus Topics: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins

2. Water Structure and Properties

Dipole Nature

  • Hydrogen atoms are more positive, oxygen atoms are more negative
  • Enables ions to dissolve (e.g., chloride ion)

Hydrolysis

  • Water breaks down molecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins)

3. Carbohydrates

Composition

  • Composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

Monosaccharides

  • Soluble carbohydrate monomers, single sugar unit
  • Simplest sugar units

Disaccharides

  • Formed by two monosaccharides in condensation reaction
  • Joined by glycosidic bonds
  • Examples: Maltose, Sucrose, Lactose

Polysaccharides

  • Several monosaccharides joined by glycosidic bonds
  • Examples: Glycogen (animals), Starch (plants)

4. Lipids

Properties

  • Non-polar, insoluble in water
  • Long-term energy reserves

Types

  • Saturated (no carbon-carbon double bonds, associated with cardiovascular disease)
  • Unsaturated (with carbon-carbon double bonds, considered healthier)

Triglycerides

  • Composed of three fatty acids and one glycerol
  • Joined by ester bonds
  • Can be saturated or unsaturated

5. Proteins

Structure

  • Made of amino acid monomers joined by peptide bonds

Levels of Structure

  1. Primary: Amino acid sequence
  2. Secondary: Folding using hydrogen bonds
  3. Tertiary: 3D folding by ionic bonds, etc.
  4. Quaternary: More than one polypeptide chain bonded together

6. Properties of Water and Its Importance

Questions on Water

  • Involved in transport of molecules (polar solvent)
  • Solubility of glucose (more hydroxyl groups for hydrogen bonds)
  • Insolubility of fatty acids (nonpolar tails)
  • Surface tension (due to hydrogen bonds and cohesion)
  • High specific heat capacity (stability for aquatic life)

7. Carbohydrate Specifics

Starch Structure

  • Polysaccharide made of amylose and amylopectin
  • Both are alpha glucose monomers joined by glycosidic bonds
  • Amylose: Linear, coiled; Amylopectin: Branched, 1,6 glycosidic bonds

Comparison of Energy Stores

  • Glycogen and amylopectin are branched, compact, and insoluble
  • Good for storing large amounts of energy

Alpha vs. Beta Glucose

  • Alpha: Hydrogen above OH group
  • Beta: Hydrogen below OH group

Formation of Disaccharides

  • Maltose: Two alpha glucose
  • Sucrose: Alpha glucose and fructose
  • Lactose: Alpha glucose and galactose

8. Lipid Specifics

Triglyceride Formation

  • Made from glycerol and three fatty acids (condensation reaction)

9. Proteins Specifics

Common Questions

  • Primary structure determining 3D shape and properties

10. Circulatory System

Importance and Mechanisms

  • Mammalian circulatory system versus insects
  • Advantages of double circulation
  • Blood clotting cascade: Thromboplastin, thrombin, fibrin

Bohr Curve and Vessel Structure

  • Bohr shift explanation
  • Arteries: lumen, endothelial cells, tunica media, tunica externa
  • Capillaries: One cell thick, endothelial cells

Heart Structure and Function

  • Veins, valves, cardiac cycle stages
  • Atherosclerosis process and dangers

11. Risk Factors and Experiments

Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

  • Age, gender, diet, smoking
  • Experiments to study risk factors: Design, validity, reliability

12. Treatments for CVD

Medications

  • Antihypertensives, statins, anticoagulants, platelet inhibitors
  • Benefits and potential side effects

13. Cell Membranes and Transport

Membrane Structure

  • Phospholipid bilayer with proteins and glycoproteins
  • Cholesterol for stability

Types of Transport

  • Active and passive transport
  • Simple and facilitated diffusion
  • Osmosis, endocytosis, exocytosis, active transport
  • Gas exchange adaptations

Factors Affecting Permeability

  • Temperature, cholesterol

14. Enzymes

Definition and Function

  • Biological catalysts, increase reaction rate by lowering activation energy

15. Nucleic Acids

DNA and RNA

  • Nucleotide structure
  • Differences between DNA and RNA
  • DNA replication: semi-conservative

Genetic Code

  • Triplet, non-overlapping, degenerate, universal

Protein Synthesis

  • Transcription and translation processes

16. Mutations

Types

  • Point mutations: substitution, insertion, deletion
  • Consequences: frameshift, silent, missense, nonsense mutations

17. Genetics and Inheritance

Definitions

  • Genotype, phenotype, alleles, dominant, recessive

Cystic Fibrosis

  • Cause, symptoms, and effects on different body systems (respiratory, digestive, reproductive)

Genetic Testing

  • Methods: adult testing, embryo testing (amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling), pre-implantation genetic diagnosis for IVF

Ethical Considerations

  • Social stigma, false positives, religious beliefs

18. Cell Membrane and Transport Detail

  • Fluid mosaic model
  • Protein channels and pumps

19. Recap: Major Takeaways

  • Importance of molecular structure
  • Functionality of biological molecules
  • Integration of biology in health and disease