©Leila Crespo Fernández, Ph. D.

Revised L. Commander January 09

3/19/2009 (C) Leila Crespo Fernández, Ph. D. Revised L. Commander January 09

• Describe the hierarchy and the levels
of organization present in nature, starting
from subatomic particles to the organismal
one.
• Describe the fundamental chemical
components of living matter.
• Explain the importance and roles of
inorganic and organic compounds in the
metabolic processes of the human body.
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 Levels of organization: from the subatomic
particles to the organism

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• The “building blocks” found in living matter
• The smallest unit of an element that
maintains its properties
• There are 92 elements that have been
discovered and are grouped according to
their properties in the Periodic Table
• Composed of subatomic particles
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• Atomic nucleus with protons (+)
and neutrons
• Orbits or energy levels, around the nucleus
with constantly moving electrons (-)
• Electrons move from one level to the other,
while liberating or consuming energy.

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 The distribution of the electrons in the energy
levels of the atom

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• Atoms of the same or different
elements can combine to form molecules.
• These molecules can be simple (oxygen and
water) or complex (proteins and starch).
• The process by which they form is called a
chemical reaction.
• The atoms are joined together by energy in
what is called a chemical bond.
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• Bonds are formed or broken: reactants and
products
• Consumes energy (endothermic) or liberates
energy (exothermic)

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 Electrons are
shared

Molecules are
formed

Potential energy:
represents stored
energy
• 2 electrons in first energy
level; 4 in the second;
needs 4 to complete this
level’s capacity
• Organic molecules
• “molecules of life”
• Carbon with 4 hydrogen
atoms
• Methane: CH4
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• H2O: water
• Universal solvent
• Shares electrons and
uneven attractions
causes\ polarity (+ and
- charges)
• Forms hydrogen bonds
• Forms latticework
arrangement of
molecules when frozen
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• Produces ions with charge (+ and -)
• Sodium chloride: table salt
• Why do we put rice in the salt shaker in P.R.?

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• Measure of hydrogen
(H+) and hydroxide
(OH-) particles formed
in solution
• Logarithmic measure
• pH meter is used

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• Hydrogen ions (H+)
formed in solution:
acidity in range from
0 to 6.9

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• Hydroxide ions (OH-)
in water solution:
alkalinity in range
from 7.1 to 14

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• The organism must maintain the adequate pH
value for each metabolic process.
• Alterations in pH may cause serious effects
in the human body.
• Examples:
– acidosis in blood caused by glucose level
alterations in diabetes
– alkalosis by marked differences in inhalation
and exhalation during asthma attacks and
tantrums.
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• Forms
macromolecules
– Monomer = single unit
– Polymer = large
molecules
• Condensation:
formation
• Hydrolysis: breaking
• Organic = containing
carbon
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• Hexose: 6 carbons
• Monomer for the large
carbohydrate molecules
• Ringed or linear
molecule
• All sugar molecules end
in –ose
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Monosacharide + Glucose = disaccharide
Disaccharide – Glucose = monosacharide
Dehydration or Condensation vs. Hydrolysis

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Polysaccharides
• Starch:
potatoes,
• Fruits
Glycogen:
• liver and
muscle (our
individual
“lunch box”)
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• Structure of cell
wall
• Dietary fiber in
our body
• How can we
obtain dietary
fiber in our
meals?
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• Fats
– Olive oil:
– Three fatty
acids + one
glycerol
• Steroids
– cholesterol
– sex hormones
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Saturated:
- More
hydrogen
- Solid at room
temperature
Unsaturated:
- Double
bonds
- Liquid at
room
temperature
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Amino acid: monomer
• Polypeptide: Many
amino acids
• 20 different amino
acids: constitute the
“alphabet” from
which all proteins are
formed
• Protein specificity
• Structural vs.
42
functional proteins
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Are proteins important in our body?
Type Function Examples
Structural Support Insects and spiders use silk fibers to
proteins make their cocoons and webs,
respectively. Collagen and elastin
provide a fibrous framework in animal
connective tissues. Keratin is the
protein of hair, horns feathers, and other
skin appendages.
Storage Storage of Ovalbumin is the protein of egg white
proteins amino acids used as an amino acid source for the
developing embryo. Casein, the protein
of milk, is the major source of amino
acids for baby mammals. Plants store
proteins in their seeds.
Are proteins important in our body?
Type Function Examples
Transport Transport of Hemoglobin, the iron containing protein
proteins other of vertebrate blood, transports oxygen
substances from the lungs to other parts of the body.
Other proteins transport molecules
across cell membranes.
Are proteins important in our body?
Type Function Examples
Hormonal organism Insulin, a hormone secreted by the
proteins coordin- pancreas, help regulate the sugar in
ation the blood of vertebrates.

Receptor cell Receptors built into the membrane of

proteins response a nerve cell detect chemicals
to chemical released by other nerve cells
stimuli
Contractile Movement Actin and myosin are responsible for
proteins muscle movement responsible for
cilia and flagella undulations.
• Audesirk, T. and Audesirk, G. (2006).
Biology: Life on earth. Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
• Campbell & Reece. (2007). Biology. San
Francisco: Benjamin Cummins.
• Lewis, R. (2005). Life. New York:
McGraw-Hill.
• Trefil, J & Hazen, R. (2006). The Sciences:
An Integrated Approach. New York:
47
Wiley.
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