BIOLOGY

Sperm Fertilization

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Male Reproductive System

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Reviewed by GL: And your sources of information? HOmework Enzymes are biomolecules that catalyze chemical reactions. Almost all enzymes are proteins. In enzymes reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process are called substrates, and the enzyme converts them into different molecules, that are called the products.
 * __ Enzymes: __**

Any of a group of organic substances essential in small quantities to normal metabolism. They are not directly produced by the body, but they are essential for it. It’s a non-protein chemical compound that is needed to “help” an enzyme that catalyzes a particular reaction. They can be considered as the "helper molecules/ions”. Cofactors can be either inorganic like metal ions or organic compounds like flavin and heme.
 * __ Vitamins: __**
 * __ Cofactors: __**

A ribozyme is an RNA molecule that catalyzes a chemical reaction. Many natural ribozymes catalyze either the hydrolysis of one of their own phosphodiester bonds, or the hydrolysis of bonds in other RNAs, but they have also been found to catalyze the aminotransferase activity of the ribosome.
 * __ Ribozymes: __**

BiOmOlecules
1. Describe the main properties and characteristics of the 4 most important biomolecules:

· ** Carbohydrates: ** Carbohydrates have the general molecular formula CH2O, and they were once thought to represent "hydrated carbon". **__ Monosaccharides: __**
 * ** Lipids: ** They are all hydrophobic, that means that they are “afraid” of water. Their structure is very different. Some lipids are fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, steroids (like cholesterol), and some other related compounds.
 * Sugars: **

Glucose: Also called the “blood sugar” is the immediate source of energy and it’s found in mostly anything sweet. Galactose: It’s a sugar in milk and yogurt. Fructose: It is the natural sugar from fruits also found in honey.

· **__ Disaccharides: __**

Sucrose — common table sugar = glucose + fructose. Lactose — major sugar in milk = glucose + galactose. Maltose — product of starch digestion = glucose + glucose


 * Polysaccharides: **

__ Cellulose: __ It is probably the most abundant organic molecule in the biosphere because it is the major structural material of which plants are made. __ Starch: __ Starches are polymers of glucose. They are insoluble in water and that’s why they can serve as storage depots of glucose. __ Glycogen: __ To store excess glucose, animals store glycogen by polymerizing it into glycogen and when energy is needed, glycogen is changed back into glucose in a process called glycogenolysis. It is found in the muscles.

· ** Proteins: ** They are built of 20 common building blocks called amino acids. Protein builds up, maintains, and replaces the tissues in your body. Your body uses the protein you eat to make lots of specialized protein molecules that have specific jobs.

3. Determine and describe the main disease related to biomolecules.
 * ** Nucleic Acids: ** A group of polymers made of repeating units of phosphoric acid and sugar to which nucleotide bases are attached. The two most common examples are DNA and RNA.

Cancer: When certain carbohydrates are heated or fried, they produced high levels of a cancer causing a substance called acrylamide. Diabetes: When there is an excess of sugars in the blood.

Brain fog: It often occurs shortly after eating carbohydrates.

4. Describe at least one disease present in your family that is related to biomolecules.
 * Obesity: ** It is a disease in which the body has an excess proportion of fat in their body.

My grand-grand father had cancer; it had to do with carbohydrates. My grand-father suffered of diabetes; it had to do with carbohydrates also. My grand-mother has cancer; it had to do with carbohydrates too.