Macromolecules and Homeostasis

Macromolecules

• Macromolecules are large molecules formed by smaller organic molecules.
• Dehydration synthesis removes water to create bonds between monomers, forming polymers.
• Hydrolysis adds water to break bonds of polymers into smaller monomers.
• Simple carbohydrates are quick energy sources composed of monomers like glucose and fructose (C, H, O).
• Complex carbohydrates (e.g., starch, glycogen) are used for energy storage also consisted of monomers like glucose and fructose (C, H, O).
• Proteins (enzymes, hemoglobin) use amino acids (C, H, O, N, S) to catalyze reactions and provide structural support.
• Nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) are made up of nucleotides (C, H, O, N, P) for storing and transferring genetic information and protein synthesis.
• Lipids (fats, oils, waxes) use glycerol and fatty acids (C, H, O) for long-term energy storage and insulation.

Homeostasis and Feedback Loops

• Homeostasis is maintaining stable internal conditions in an organism.
• Positive feedback loops amplify changes, accelerating a process (e.g., childbirth).
• Negative feedback loops counteract changes, maintaining stability (e.g., body temperature).
• Insulin's feedback loop is a negative feedback example.

Matching Steps with Descriptions

• Stimuli are internal or external factors causing an imbalance.
• Sensor detects stimulus changes.
• Control Center receives signals and sends commands.
• Effector responds to the command, counteracting imbalance.
• Response restores the internal conditions to their set point.

Cell Membranes

• Cell membranes are semi-permeable, allowing specific substances to pass through.
• Phospholipid bilayer is the base structure of cell membranes.
• Selective permeability of membranes regulates what enters/exits the cell.
• Proteins in the cell membrane support transport of materials.

Cell Transport: Passive Transport

• Concentration gradient describes the difference in concentration between two areas.
• Dynamic equilibrium is when the concentration of a substance is equal throughout.
• Simple diffusion moves molecules from high to low concentration (e.g., O2, CO2).
• Facilitated diffusion uses carrier proteins for molecule transport (e.g., glucose).

Cell Transport: Active Transport

• Active transport uses energy (ATP) to move molecules against a concentration gradient.
• Active transport moves things like ions, glucose and amino acids.

Cell Transport: Osmosis

• Osmosis is the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane.
• Aquaporins are water channel proteins in cell membranes.
• Tonicity is a solution's ability to make a cell gain or lose water.
• Isotonic solutions have equal solute concentrations inside and outside the cell.
• Hypotonic solutions have a lower solute concentration outside the cell.
• Hypertonic solutions have a higher solute concentration outside the cell.
• A cell in a hypotonic solution will swell as water moves into the cell.
• A cell in a hypertonic solution will shrink as water moves out of the cell.

Ecology

• Biotic factors are living organisms (e.g., plants, animals).
• Abiotic factors are non-living parts of an environment (e.g., water, sunlight).
• Food chains display the flow of energy. Arrows show direction.
• Algae are producers in a food chain.
• Shrimp, Minnows, Bass, and Eagles are primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary consumers, respectively in a given food chain.

Energy Pyramid

• Energy pyramids show energy flow and loss in a food chain.

Growth Curve

• Growth curves can show exponential growth.

Characteristics of Life

• Characteristics of life include cells, reproduction, evolution, metabolism, genetic material, growth, development, response to stimuli, and photosynthesis/cellular respiration.

ATP and ADP

• ATP (adenosine triphosphate) has three phosphate groups, while ADP (adenosine diphosphate) has two.
• Reforming ATP requires energy (from food) to add a third phosphate.

Homeostasis and Infection

• Homeostasis can be disrupted by infection.
• Elevated body temperature (Fever) is a negative feedback loop effect of infection.
• Post-infection, homeostasis returns to normal conditions.

Additional Information:

• Simple carbohydrates are primarily responsible for quick energy sources.
• Negative feedback loops diminish changes, maintaining stability.
• The primary function of nucleic acids is storing and transmitting genetic information.
• Dehydration synthesis involves removing water molecules.
• Lipids do not contain nitrogen as a common element.
• Facilitated diffusion does not require energy.
• Phospholipids form the foundation of cell membranes.
• Insulin regulates blood sugar via negative feedback.
• Proteins are crucial for structural support and catalyzing reactions.
• Active transport requires energy, unlike passive transport.
• Osmosis is the movement of water, not solutes.
• Aquaporins facilitate water transport across membranes.
• Hydrolysis is the process of adding water to break down molecules.
• Lipids' primary function is long-term energy storage.
• Homeostasis refers to stable internal conditions.
• Proteins are essential for enzyme function.
• Carrier proteins aid facilitated diffusion.
• Cells shrink in a hypertonic solution.
• Chlorophyll absorbs light energy in photosynthesis.
• A trophic level is an organism's position in a food chain.
• Endocytosis brings substances into a cell, exocytosis expels them.
• Primary consumers feed on producers.
• Nitrogen is not a common element in lipids, but is in proteins.
• Feedback loops maintain balance by counteracting changes.
• Photosynthesis converts light into chemical energy in plants.
• Enzymes speed up reactions by lowering activation energy.
• In an isotonic solution, water movement is balanced.
• Nucleic acids are involved in storing and transmitting genetic information.
• Cellular respiration converts glucose and oxygen into ATP.
• Enzymes are proteins.
• The producer level holds the most energy in an energy pyramid.
• Dynamic equilibrium means equal movement across a membrane.
• Primary Consumers occupy the second level in a food web.
• Decomposers break down organic matter and recycle nutrients.
• Secondary consumers consume primary consumers.
• Tertiary consumers are above secondary consumers in a food web.
• Producers create energy-rich molecules.
• Energy pyramids show energy loss through trophic levels.
• The 10% rule describes energy transfer inefficiency.
• Autotrophs produce their own food, while heterotrophs consume it.
• A keystone species is a critical part of its ecosystem.
• Removing top predators causes ecosystem imbalances.
• Biomass is the total mass of living organisms.
• Trophic cascades refer to predator-prey relationships impacting ecosystems at various levels.