Unit 2

Apuntes

Unit 2 1. What are the chemical components of cells? • The biomolecules form the cells. • The biomolecules are made of combinations of bioelements . • The biomolecules are organic or inorganic: - Inorganic biomolecules: water and mineral salts. - Organic biomolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. · Osmosis: is diffusion through a semipermeable membrane that allows solvents to pass through but not solutes. · Hypertonic solution; more sugar than water. · Hypotonic solution; more water than sugar. - Organic biomolecules: a) Carbohydrates; provide energy (like glucose, fructose, and lactose), store energy (as starch in plants and glycogen in animals), are part of nucleic acids (DNA), and give structural support (cellulose in plant cell walls). b) Lipids; store large amounts of energy, like triglycerides, are part of cell membranes (structural function), and help form vitamins and sex hormones. c) Proteins; are composed of aminoacid chains. They provide structure, they speed up chemical reactions (as enzymes), transport molecules by blood, defend the body, and help muscles contract for movement. d) Nucleic acids; (DNA and RNA)...