Biology: Proteins and Water Properties

Proteins

• Proteins are made up of building blocks called amino acids
• There are about 20 different amino acids that link together in different combinations
• Proteins are required for the structure, function, and regulation of the body's tissues and organs

Water and its Properties

• Water is polar, with partial positive charges on the hydrogens and a partial negative charge on the oxygen, and a bent overall structure
• Water is an excellent solvent, able to dissolve many polar and ionic substances
• Water has high heat capacity, requiring a lot of energy to raise its temperature
• Water has high heat of vaporization, allowing it to cool off living organisms through evaporation
• Water's cohesive and adhesive properties enable fluid transport in many forms of life

Minerals and their Functions

• Around 105 minerals have been discovered, with about 60-65 absorbed by plants from the soil
• Different species of plants take up different minerals
• Minerals like phosphorus and magnesium are essential for plant reproduction, growth, and development
• Mineral deficiencies can result in stunted growth, insufficient chlorophyll, and cell senescence
• Potassium elements increase the quality of fruits and vegetables

Water in Plants

• Water acts as a solvent, allowing plants to absorb nutrients
• Water makes up over 90% of the plant body and is essential for photosynthesis
• Water helps maintain cell walls, enables cell enlargement and division, and is essential for germination and growth
• Water is involved in the conversion of starch to sugar and regulates plant temperature

Plant Biology

• Paleobotany: the study of fossil plants and plant evolution
• Plant biochemistry: the chemical processes of primary and secondary metabolism
• Phenology: the timing of germination, flowering, and fruiting
• Phytochemistry: plant secondary chemistry and chemical processes
• Phytogeography: plant biogeography, the study of plant distributions
• Plant anatomy: structure of plant cells and tissues
• Plant ecology: role and function of plants in the environment
• Plant genetics: genetic inheritance in plants
• Plant morphology: structure of plants
• Plant physiology: life functions of plants
• Plant reproduction: processes of plant reproduction
• Plant taxonomy: classification and naming of plants

Biomolecules

• Biomolecules are substances produced by cells and living organisms
• The four major types of biomolecules are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins
• Carbohydrates are naturally occurring compounds with the general formula Cx(H2O)y, made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
• Carbohydrates are divided into four types: monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides
• Lipids are fatty compounds that perform various functions in the body, including energy storage and vitamin absorption
• Nucleic acids are naturally occurring chemical compounds that serve as the primary information-carrying molecules in cells, including DNA and RNA