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.