Introduction to Biochemistry

GROUP 5 SECTION 2
 DEFINITION OF TERM

BIOCHEMISTRY:
- It is the branch of science that is concerned with the chemical
and physicochemical processes and substance that occur with
living organism.
- Biochemistry is also the application of chemistry to the study of
biological processes at the cellular and molecular level.
 BIOCHEMISTRY IN NURSING

BIOCHEMISTRY:
- It is important and crucial to nurses in understanding of
how the human body functions on normal and various
disease state. And the intervention of the nurses are
based on their understanding.
 Properties of Living Systems

- Chemical Uniqueness
- Complex Hierarchical Organization
- Reproduction
- Genetic Program
- Metabolism
- Development
- Environment Interaction
 Chemical Uniqueness

- Determined by way 4 Major Macromolecules are put

together.
Ex.
1. Nuclei Acids
2. Lipids
3. Proteins
4. Carbohydrates
 Complex Hierarchical Organization

- Unique to living systems and has levels of organizations

Cell
Tissue
Organs
Organ System
Organism
Population
Species
Properties of water and
Its importance

Water is essential to life because of four

important properties: polarity, cohesion and
adhesion, water's high specific heat and
Evaporative cooling.
 POLARITY

- When the two hydrogen atoms bond with the oxygen, they attach to the top
of the molecule.
- The end of the molecule with the two hydrogen atoms is positively charged.
The other end, with the oxygen, is negatively charged.
- the positive end of the water molecule will connect with the negative end of
other molecules ('opposites attract').
- Water's polarity allows it to dissolve other polar substances very easily.
- The attractions cause the molecules of the new substance to be mixed
uniformly with the water molecules. Water dissolves more substances than
any other liquid – even the strongest acid! Because of this, it is often called
the 'universal solvent.'
 
 Importance of POLARITY

- The dissolving power of water is very important for life on Earth. Wherever water
goes, it carries dissolved chemicals, minerals, and nutrients that are used to support
living things.

Cohesion and adhesion

- cohesion: Water is attracted to water.

Adhesion: Water is attracted to other things.
 Importance of Cohesion and Adhesion

- Water striders (insects) glide across water surfaces owing to the cohesive
property or water.
- Water droplets from a plants, allowing the plants to soak up the water over
time rather than all at once.

Water’s high specific heat and evaporative Cooling

- Water has a very high specific heat, which means it can take in a lot of
heat before changing temperature.
- when heat energy is transferred to water molecules , and evaporating
water removes a lot of heat energy from an organism
 Importance of Water’s high specific heat and
evaporative Cooling

- Water covers around 70% of the earth surface and its high specific heat
plays a very important role As it is able to absorb a lot of heat without
significant rise in the temperature.
- Our bodies are designed to sweat to release heat and keep our body at
its natural temperature when it gets too hot. Our skin releases sweat
which contains water. The water absorbs the heat from our skin and it is
eventually evaporates, taking the extra heat in our skin with it. This
decreases our body temperature and keeps us from overheating.
 references
- https://prezi.com/wc80qizrtqbp/water-properties-essential-to-life/
- https://
www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-properties-cohesion-adhesion-why-they-764682
- https://
www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-properties-cohesion-adhesion-why-they-764682
- https://learning-center.homesciencetools.com/article/properties-water-science-lesson/
- https://socratic.org/questions/what-are-some-examples-of-properties-of-water
- https://
www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-importance-high-specific-heat-water-life-245731
- https://staffweb.psdschools.org/shunter/zoologyweb/Intro/PropsoflivSystppt09.pdf
- https://quizlet.com/68406299/general-properties-of-living-systems-flash-cards/
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