Chemistry
of Life
E7
Life Science
Beijing SMIC Private School
Chemistry of Life
How to Find Aliens?
 Depends
on their intelligence and chemistry…
Low Life
virus
Advanced Life
bacteria
multi-cellular
intelligent
Chemistry of Life
Chemistry of Life
 The






most common elements in life are:
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Sulphur
C
H
O
N
P
S
C.H.O.N.P.S.
Carbon and
water H2O
Chemistry of Life
Chemistry of Life
 The
two most essential chemical basis of life are:
 Water
- solvent
 Carbon
– chemistry and structure
Chemistry of Life
Water
 Water
is essential for life because:
1.
It is common in a liquid state
2.
It is a very good solvent and transporter
3.
It can participate in many chemical reactions
4.
It has many beneficial physical properties
Chemistry of Life
Carbon
 Carbon
is essential to life because:
1.
Carbon can form many bonds
2.
Carbon can bond with many other elements
3.
Carbon can form long chains
Macromolecules
4.
Carbon can form rings
Macromolecules
Macromolecules vs Polymers
 Macromolecules
are molecules with thousands
of atoms
 Polymers are macromolecules made up of
identical or similar monomers
Macromolecules
Polymers
Lipids
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Nucleic Acids
Macromolecules
Macromolecules
 The
four most important macromolecules are:
1.
Carbohydrates “sugars”
2.
Lipids “fats”
3.
Proteins
4.
Nucleic Acids
Macromolecules
Carbohydrates
 Carbohydrates
are macromolecules that are
made up of saccharides
 Carbohydrates
are used for energy storage,
communication and cell structures
 Examples



Starch in potatoes
Glycogen in meat
Cellulose in corn
Macromolecules
Carbohydrates
Macromolecules
Lipids
 Lipids
are macromolecules that are
hydrophobic (do not dissolve in water)
 Lipids
are used for energy storage,
communication and membrane structures
 Examples



Oils and vitamins in food
Cholesterol and steroids in body
Phospholipid in membranes
Cell Building Blocks
Lipids
Macromolecules
Proteins
 Proteins
are macromolecules made by folding
long chains of (20) amino acids
 Proteins
are main workers, used for enzymes,
communication, transport, and cell structures
 Examples



Enzymes in respiration and photosynthesis
Hemoglobin and insulin in cells
Keratin in hair, myosin in muscles
Macromolecules
Amino Acids
 Proteins
are made up from 20 AA monomers
Macromolecules
Proteins
Macromolecules
Nucleic Acids
 Nucleic
acids are macromolecules are made
up of (5) nucleotides
 Nucleic
acids are used to store encoded
information for building and reproducing life
 Examples


DNA is used to make RNA
RNA is used to make proteins
Macromolecules
Nucleic Acids
Macromolecules
Nucleic Acids
Macromolecules
Macromolecules
 Videos
 Lab
notebook