3 major themes, how are the connected to more than one topic and what you knew before, what knowledge have you gained?

Throughout the semester, this course has focused on three main objectives in relation to the fundamentals of biochemistry. First off would be the structure and function of the four major biomolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids). The structures in which these four are made up have been a topic of discussion since general biology. Nucleic acids are composed of nucleotides, proteins are made up of long amino acid sequences, carbohydrates are made by sugars and lipids are produced from fatty acids. It was a key component for us to be able to identify a compound as a protein or a carb, ECT...after studying the structures of them intensely. However, in biochemistry, we focused much on the mechanisms as well as their structures. For instance, the mechanism of proteins to act as enzymes to catalyze reactions. We study extensively the different types of enzymes used for different types of reactions and became more and more familiar as to which enzyme does what to each reaction by either looking at the name or viewing what has been altered between the reactants and the products.

Second objective that we studied thoroughly was the process for DNA replication. One of the main sub-objectives of this topic was to compare and contrast DNA replication within prokaryotes and eukaryotes. After examining the two it's always the case that eukaryotic replication is so much more complex compared to prokaryotic. Two mechanisms discussed are transcription and translation. These were also touched based on in general biology as well as genetics, but it was important that we looked at this in a biochemical sense and understand all the components embedded into these two topics. For instance the use of transcription factors as well as the in depth study of the genetic code.

Finally, the process of cellular metabolism was the last thoroughly discussed objective we encountered in this course. Obviously, we have all had background knowledge from, again, general biology and other disciplinary courses of biochemistry but we must look at this from a biochemical stand point and looking at it that way allows us to view each key compound and reaction in action of this process. Glycolysis and the Citric Acid Cycle where broken down into each little reaction that takes place and we were shown the presence of each individual enzyme required for each reaction as well as being able to identify which type of reaction it is. Not only did we just discuss the metabolism of carbohydrates but also lipids and a comparison of the two as to which is more energy sufficient as well as which is better in the case of storage capacity. This is a topic to which I have never touched based on so I found it to be rather interesting to learn about and it was very easy to understand because of how extensively we have studied these two biomolecules.

How Would You Explain The Connection Between Glucose Entering The Body and Energy Created By The Body To A Friend?

The act of conducting this experiment (explaining glycolysis to a friend) would conclude a series of frustrating explanations as to why this all works as my voice gradually becomes louder and more adamant about what I'm saying. If it were to continue longer than this point it could very well lead to unnecessary violence and the act of at least 5 of the 7 deadly sins. Therefore, to prevent this we will add in the consumption of alcohol, to both me and my friend, to allow for better results and, let’s face it, a better time in general. Assuming this friend took at least high school biology and has a good recollection of it still, I will not have to explain too much background information. Let's begin then! "DUDE!!!!! I gotta tell you about the connection between glucose entering the body and how energy is created from that! It's so insane!!"
Basically it is all converted through this metabolic pathway called glycolysis. As glucose enters this pathway, it is broken down to create ATP through a series of reactions and then ends in the form of pyruvate. At this point there is a net yield of 2 ATP molecules per glucose (4 ATP produced, 2 ATP used). Now at this point pyruvate must choose. It can either go on to create more ATP (only if presence of oxygen), give us that suck ass feeling we get when our muscles contract after working out, or make some alcohol. If decided to go on and create more ATP then it will enter a new pathway known as the citric acid cycle it will then be converted into acetyl-CoA and go around in a circle losing more and more carbon atoms and creating more energy yielding compounds until broken down to a four carbon molecule called oxaloacetate that is then regenerated to perform the cycle all over again. The resulting number of ATP is 32 and we can use that to do sports and shit. This is kind of a big deal.

What knowledge have you connected with past knowledge?

At this point in Biochemistry, we have gone over in depth the properties and contributions of macromolecules (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids). All of which I have learned about in the past and remembering what I knew of them really helped me out when talking about them all in a biochemistry sense. In this class we focused on how their monomers are chemically arranged within their structure, meanwhile, in other disciplinary courses the only real topic of discussion was what each was composed of (proteins=amino acids, lipids=fatty acids, carbohydrates=sugars, nucleic acids=nucleotides). Also, it was necessary for us to know the functions and effects that these macromolecules act. Soon after the midterm we started talking about biological processes such as transcription and translation. These two forms of DNA replication have obviously been discussed in other classes so much of this was review. However, we did touch base with a few components I have not known much about before such as transcription factors and how previously we were taught that a certain gene can encode for only one protein when it is in fact that a certain gene can encode for many proteins. I know now that more processes are going to be covered next in upcoming lectures for this class so I hope to be able to recollect all of this material when the time comes to be able to understand it the best I can.