Unit #1: The Molecular Basis of Life
In this first unit, we will be discussing the nature of biology and it's interrelatedness to other fields of science. You will learn about the various organizational levels of biology and we will begin by discussing the molecular level of organization as well as the interactions that occur between individual molecules. By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Describe chemical and physical properties of water
- Describe and explain the role of carbon in molecular diversity
- Discuss dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis
- Compare/contrast the structure/function of organic macromolecules
- Interpret a graph of free energy change and relate it to photosynthesis and cellular respiration
- Diagram and explain how enzymes regulate the rate of chemical reactions
- Use the induced fit and lock and key model to describe enzyme specificity
- List and explain the factors that regulate enzyme activity