General Biology: Amino Acids and Proteins

Amino Acids and Proteins

• Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
• Proteins are large biomolecules composed of one or more chains of amino acids, essential for the structure, function, and regulation of the body's tissues and organs.

Levels of Biological Organization

• Subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, electrons) form atoms through interactions like bonding.
• Atoms combine to form molecules through chemical bonds.
• Molecules assemble into macromolecules through various interactions.
• Organelles work together to form cells.
• Cells organize into tissues through cell specialization.
• Tissues combine to form organs through coordinated functions.
• Organs work together to form organ systems.
• Organ systems combine to form an organism.

Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

• Describes the flow of genetic information within a biological system.
• DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is a double-stranded molecule containing genetic instructions.
• Replication: process where DNA makes an exact copy of itself prior to cell division.
• Transcription: process where a segment of DNA is copied into RNA by an enzyme called RNA polymerase.
• RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) is a single-stranded molecule that plays a crucial role in various biological processes.
• mRNA (Messenger RNA) is a type of RNA molecule synthesized during transcription that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome.
• Translation: process where the information carried by mRNA is decoded to produce a specific sequence of amino acids.

Genetic Engineering

• Involves manipulating an organism's genetic material to achieve desirable traits or outcomes.
• Applications include crop improvement, gene therapy, and biotechnology.
• Example: inserting a gene from a firefly into a tobacco plant to make it glow in the dark.