Steroids Jello and Cow Bones - what will we do in this class next?!!

Thursday September 20^th

Carbohydrates are made up of what three elements in what ratio?

Carbon:Hydrogen:Oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio (remember - Carbohydrate literally means the Hydrate (Water) of carbon.  For every carbon atom there is APPROXIMATELY one Water molecule (H2O)  I say approximately because this is just a RATIO, it will not only be exact (like the example Below)

 Other than a source of energy – what other function do carbohydrates have?

They act as structural support such as Cellulose providing structure to plants and Chitin making up the shells of crabs/lobsters and certain insects.  Carbohydrates are also key in cellular recognition.  They act as "name tags" on the outside of cells that are unique to the type of cell and the type of organism.  (Which is why organ transplants can be difficult to find matches for)

 Which can store more energy Carbohydrates or lipids? Why?

Lipids.  Energy is stored in chemical bonds and is released when bonds are broken.  There are MORE C-H bonds in lipids than in carbohydrates so they can STORE more energy.  It is harder to get to the energy found in lipids though because we first have to "burn" through our carbohydrate stores

Looking the following chemical formulas, what kind of biomolecules would you infer each to be?  

C₁₉H₂₈O₂                                

_{This would be an example of a lipid.  You can tell by the large number of Carbons and Hydrogens.  While there is a FEW oxygen molecules - it is not anywhere CLOSE to a 1:2:1 ratio.  This is in fact the structural formula of Testosterone which is a natural steroid hormone found in our bodies.}

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁

This would be a carbohydrate.  This is the molecular formal for Sucrose (table sugar) which is a DIsaccharide.  It is not EXACTLY a 1:2:1 ratio - but how it is bonded together does not allow for a complete 1:2:1 ratio.  

After the daily questions we worked through the notes finishing up lipids and some of us where able to move into proteins.  In the Protein section I had you listen to a podcast on how Gelatin is made.  Here is a transcript of that podcast

http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/transcript/what-exactly-is-jello-made-from/

Don't forget - DAILY QUESTION QUIZ TOMORROW!!! STUDY UP!!  They will be from the couple from last week and all of this weeks.