Download General Biochem review questions 2015

Review questions
 What is the difference between a
monosaccharide and a polysaccharide?
 Monosaccharide = one ring; polysaccharide =
many combined monosaccharides

Both are carbohydrates
 What are proteins made of?
 Amino acids
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(not nucleic acids – those are DNA/RNA)
 Is a lipid a molecule or an atom?
 Molecule
 Difference between glycogen and glucose?
 Glycogen is a polysaccharide made of many
glucose molecules
 Glycogen stores energy for medium-term
needs
 Glucose is available for immediate energy
 What is the difference between starch and
glycogen?
 Starch = plants; glycogen = animals
 What do enzymes do?
 Speed up chemical reactions
 Explain the “lock and key” analogy for how
enzymes and their substrates interact.
(Substrates are the chemical(s) they react
with) Short answer and/or labeled drawing.
 In this analogy, the enzyme is the lock and
the substrate is the key. The substrate fits
into a specific location in the enzyme, and
once they are joined together, the chemical
reaction can take place.
 What are some important functions of
proteins?

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Helps build muscles, bones
Create most of your traits (what you look like!)
Move materials in and out of cells
Helps with immune responses
Control the rate of chemical reactions
(ENZYMES!)
 What would be more likely to help you break
down food quickly: an enzyme or a nucleic
acid?
 Enzymes!
 What is more difficult for living organisms to
break down – a lipid or a carbohydrate?
 Lipids
 What is an important function of lipids?
 Make up cell membranes
 Cell messengers (help cells talk to each
other)
 Long-term energy storage
 What is an important function of
carbohydrates?
 Quick energy use
 Short-term energy storage
 Cell structure – especially in plants

Cell walls = cellulose (fiber)
 What is an atom? Short answer. Be clear – a
vague answer will earn partial credit.
 An atom is the smallest whole unit of matter.
 What do nucleic acids contain instructions
for?
 Proteins (which build your traits)
 What is the difference between an atom and
a molecule? Short answer.
 An atom is the smallest “unit” of matter, while
a molecule is comprised of at least two atoms
chemically joined together.
 Which generally stores more energy: a typical
lipid molecule or a typical carbohydrate
molecule? One word answer.
 Lipid