Bio H - Biochemistry
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Study Guide Biochemistry
Contrary to popular belief biology IS cumulative knowledge! Much of the content from our last pertains
here. I’ve highlighted major concepts below, but review anything you had trouble with on the last test.
Previously covered yet still relevant topics:
- Experimental design – EVERY TEST ALL YEAR. Get your variables, constants and controls straight
- Polarity and properties of water
- Properties of pH
- All terminology that we are still using
Key Inorganic components in the body:
- Functions of water:
o Be familiar with what water does in the body and be able to provide examples of each
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Functions of Minerals:
o List the major functions of minerals and then provide specific examples of minerals and where they
“work” in the body.
Intro to Macromolecules:
- In your own words differentiate between the following terms: macromolecule, organic, inorganic,
hydrocarbon, polymer, monomer
- Describe what characteristic of carbon makes it so important, what this characteristic allows it to do and
why this is important to living things
Building and Breaking down molecules
- Describe the difference between Dehydration synthesis and Hydrolysis
o Know what types of molecules these apply to, HOW and WHY (in other words why would we need
to hydrolyze something? When would dehydration synthesis be necessary?)
o Identify the significance of the hydroxyl groups attached to the molecules
o Be able to draw products of either reaction when given the reactants – in other words, we might
show you two monosaccharides and ask you to draw the disaccharide;
Carbohydrates (-oses)
- Basic vocabulary:
o Know the difference between monosaccharide, disaccharide, polysaccharide and be able to
categorize each of the following: glucose, fructose, ribose, lactose, sucrose, starch (amylose),
cellulose (fiber), glycogen
- Structure:
o What elements make up carbs?
o What ratio of these elements make up a monosacch?
o Recognize a picture of a monosaccharide, a disaccharide and a polysaccharide
o When given the reactants, draw the products of hydrolysis/dehydration synthesis
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Functions:
o Know ALL of the functions discussed in the notes and the specific differences between them
o For polysaccharides, you are responsible for the specific functions of starch, cellulose (fiber), and
glycogen as well as what organism they might be found in
Bio H - Biochemistry
Lipids:
- Basic vocabulary:
o Differentiate between saturated, unsaturated, trans, hydrogenated INCLUDING their chemical
differences, health effects and phase at room temperature.
- Examples:
o Know the structural features of triglycerides (fats/oils), steroids, phospholipids
- Structure
o What elements make up lipids?
o What components are linked to make a triglycerides? Why aren’t these components considered
monomers?
o Given the reactants be able to draw the products of condensation/hydrolysis. Label all the parts
o Differentiate between a phospholipid and a triglyceride
o Recognize the basic ring structure of a steroid
- Functions:
o Discuss the specific functions of lipids including triglycerides, phospholipids and cholesterol
ENERGY: know the hierarchy of energy sources in your cells. What molecules do they access for energy
and in what sequence?
Proteins:
- Basic vocabulary:
o Label the parts of an amino acid
o Explain the similarities and differences between the 20 amino acids and the significance of these
similarities and differences
- Structure:
o What elements make up proteins?
o Given the reactants be able to draw the products of condensation/hydrolysis.
o Describe the four levels of protein folding, what is holding them together and which ones are
disrupted by denaturation
- Function
o Describe several functions of proteins in your cells
Nutrition:
- Know what a calorie is
- Describe the digestion of the macromolecules and how the nutrients are used
- Know the role that minerals play in our cells
General tips:
Flashcards work well for both vocabulary and recognizing structures
You will not be asked to draw structure from memory but you WILL need to recognize them
ALSO given structure of reactants you should be able to draw the finished products of dehydration synthesis
OR Hydrolysis.
CONCEPT MAPS REALLY HELP!!! Try it out to help you find relationships between the different concepts
Focus less on “quizzing” yourself about facts and practice explaining large concepts. Practice teaching the
concepts either aloud or by writing on paper!