Reflecting back on the course.

Reflecting back on the course, what are three major themes you would identify that connect the various topics discussed in this course – how are they connected to more than one topic, and how do they connect with what you knew before this course? What knowledge have you gained with regards to these three themes you have identified?


The three major themes that I would identify that connect the various topics discussed in this course are genetics, metabolism, and connections. 

1. In this course, genetics played a big role as far as learning about nucleic acid structure goes. It also helped in understanding replication, transcription, and translation on a new level. Things learned pertaining to genetics were specific enzymes jobs and what exactly they did to bonds and what they produced leading to their names. 
2. The second theme applies to glycolysis, the krebs cycle and the electron transport chain. I've gone over these cycles and chains in microbiology I didn't really understand why each step was happening and why enzymes had such weird names. After this class though, A better understanding of the names was retained making it clearer and easier to remember later on. Kinase for example is an enzyme that catalyzes phosphorylation. 
3. Finally, connections are made throughout the course and incorporating past knowledge from other courses and even general knowledge that finally made sense. It's obvious now why we were asked to relate genetics, molecular biology, biology and chemistry in our first blog. One is constantly connecting those subjects to biochemistry! This course definitely helped connect the dots in so many things. 

How would you explain the connection between glucose entering the body and energy created to a freind?

If one of my friends were to ask me "How glucose works in the body",  I would tell them that glucose is a major source of energy.That energy will determine how cells will function properly.Foods such as vegetables, fruits, and grains are all filled with Glucose and fructose (which is a simpler sugar than glucose).  These foods begin the digestion process in the mouth, stomach, then into the small intestines where they will be broken down and shipped to the cells around the body.  Polysaccharides will get broken into monosaccharides which is basically a big bundle of sugars to a bunch of glucose molecules. 


Once these molecules are "shipped" into the blood and into cells. These cells will then either be stored or go through a process called Glycolysis. If stored, the body synthesizes into glycogen which is actually found in muscle and liver tissue. Glycogen is just many glucose molecules that are bound together. 


When energy is needed in the body, the cells go through Glycolysis to break down glucose. Glucose will be broken down into 2 pyruvate acid molecules forming two ATP molecules. ATP is energy!  If oxygen isn't around, then the pyruvate will be formed into lactate instead and then brought to the liver to be brought back to glucose again.  If oxygen is available though, then it will continue to form ATP by two more metabolic processes. After these processes, more ATP molecules will be formed allowing for energy to be used across the body allowing us to do our daily tasks.

What knowledge have you connected with past knowledge?

My favorite part of biochemistry, besides learning all the new and exciting information from lecture, is the biochemistry connection presentations. For example, I presented why we need to eat more salmon and found out what omega-3 really does and how it can help prevent heart disease and such.

I'm concurrently taking genetics with biochemistry so it's interesting that as we move further along in the processes of replication, transcription, and translation, I get a more broad explanation in genetics and then actually discover the biochemical processes that go on in more detailed perspective in biochemistry. Some of which include names of specific enzymes and what they do.

Also, this class has allowed me to make farther connections and clarified previous random biological facts that I've learned over the past couple of years that made no sense at the time.

Youtube biochemistry connections!

This is a youtuber vlog who simplified some concepts in biochemistry. It's a great way to learn biochemistry with visuals other than the normal book and pictures. He has several hundred thousand views on his videos. Check it out!

Youtuber's page: http://www.youtube.com/user/aaronsbiochemvideos?ob=0

Biochemistry playlist: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=UUB34s87z8t9KeSWLO_SJNdA&feature=plcp

BIOchemistry Connections with past knowledge!

Things said in BIOCHEM that made some neurological connections! There are so many of them made from past knowledge but here a few that actually stuck in mind:

Disulfide bonds! 
These were taught in general chemistry. Sure, the meaning was understood, but what about real life? In curly hair!! The more curly the hair, the more disulfide bonds there are. It finally makes sense. Obviously there are many other places that can be found, but now there's a connection.

Proteins!
It's always been a mystery to me why proteins work the way they do. And why enzymes do what they do. Although some might think of it as a simple concept. I finally realized that the structure determines their function.

Chinese food syndrome!!
I always feel sick after eating Chinese food. Now I know that it really is the food that made me feel sick and not something else. It's because it contains lots of MSG which is linked to Glutamic Acid. It's obviously a flavor enhancer since I still eat Chinese food. It's just so delicious.

Alzheimer's disease causing protein..alter ego?

Protein name:

Amyloid-beta Precursor Protein

Amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP) is large membranous protein  that normally plays an important  role in neural growth and repair. However, the corrupted form, (with the evil alter ego), can destroy nerve cells which leads to Alzheimer's disease.

APP has many different functions and is normally found on the surface of cells in the body. It is connected to  few domains by flexible linkers which make it hard to study due to it's structure. 

It plays significant roles both when intact or when broken into pieces which is why many functions of APP are still being discovered and studied. When the protein is intact, it sends signals through a G-Protein system. In other words it becomes a receptor protein and binds to other structural molecules outside of the cells. When it binds to heparin and laminin, it plays a role in cell adhesion.

The protein can also be broken up into fragments by proteases called secretases. Secretase cuts the sides of the small peptides in APP. One of the pieces (the larger piece)  then is released outside of the cell and helps control the growth of nerves and the other piece (the smaller one) is taken into the cell where it plays a role in the nucleus with protein-synthesis. The middle piece however , is the one that plays the BIGGEST role in Alzheimer's disease. 

 

source: doi: 10.2210/rcsb_pdb/mom_2006_7 (PDF Version, ePub Version  )

What is biochemistry, and how does it differ from the fields of genetics, biology, chemistry, and molecular biology?

Biochemistry is the study of structure, function, composition and chemical reactions in living organisms. It combines different knowledge from different areas in science.

• In genetics, traits of heredity are studied through proteins and  amino acids rather than studying them on a chemical depth as in biochemistry.
• Biology is the study of all living organisms and includes their origin, function, structure and evolution. It is also a more broad study of living things where as biochemistry is concentrated. 
• Chemistry is the study of elements, molecular compounds, and their structure and characteristics. It differs from biochemistry in such that biochemistry focuses on the structural organization in the human body. 
• Molecular biology is the study of biology at a molecular level. It overlaps with other areas of biology including biochemistry.