Disaccharide

The large consumption of sugar intake is arguably the leading cause of adverse health conditions such as obesity and diabetes in the U.S. Many researchers have studied health outcomes as a result of increased sugar intake, and have concluded that high levels of sugar is most commonly “found in the vast majority of processed foods, especially in sugar-sweetened beverages.” With this knowledge, several health organizations (i.e. World Health Organization) are strongly recommending children and…

by glucose monomers but in a β linkage. Humans cannot metabolize cellulose because they do not have the enzyme to break that type of bond. In lactose intolerance, the person does not have the enzyme to break the cross bond that is formed in the disaccharide. Moreover, glycosaminoglycan forms a gel-like structure as part of cartilage absorbing the force of the impact and protecting the bones. Carbohydrates function in cell signaling is vital; by changing their structure, the whole function of an…

100 Days of Horror with Bordetella Pertussis by Isabella Theamaree Fortun Bordetella pertussis is a fimbriated Gram-negative, pleomorphic, aerobic coccobacillus. It also has a surface associated microcapsule however the role of this is unknown. Bordetella species, in general, grow best at 35° to 37° C. 1 Their growth is fastidious, and this degree of fastidiousness is inversely proportional to its rate of growth.1 Among all Bordetella species, Bordetella pertussis is the most…

A chemical reaction is the change of a molecule from one arrangement to another. Our whole bodies are made up of cells, which are chemical systems. To sustain life there must be chemical reactions all throughout the body (Barnhart and Hopper 2011). At what rate the reaction can occur is dependent on the activation energy. Activation energy is the amount of energy the reactant molecules must surpass for the reaction to occur (Mathew Bui et al. 2006). Temperature and catalysts are the most basic…

Assignment 1: Metabolism Gone Wrong: Galactosemia Course: Biochem 3D03 TA: Rabia Mateen Name: Kei Cheng Mak ID: 3122260 Date: October 15th, 2014 Introduction Metabolism consists of biochemical reactions catalyzing the conversion of complex macronutrients into usable energy by various enzymes. Energy in food is extracted from three macronutrients - carbohydrate, protein and fat. As food passes through the digestive tract, various enzymes and chemicals in the body break food particles into…

Metabolism Metabolism is the sum total of all the chemical reactions in the human body. Metabolism is as physical and chemical changes that take place in a human body that provide acceptable energy for life processes and the synthesis of new materials. Metabolism is like a balance between reactions. On this balance there is two sides. Breaking down and building up. Breaking down is known Catabolism. Catabolism is simply breaking down molecules for energy. The buildup part of metabolism is known…

Water a vital biological molecule Molecule of water Water is a substance which is transparent, odourless and colourless liquid that has a boiling temperature of 373K, freezing temperature of 273K meaning it is liquid at room temperature. Water is a compound containing 2 hydrogen atoms, but also has an oxygen molecule as well this means it has the molecular formula of H2O. The relative atomic mass of water is around 18 with “11.188% being hydrogen and 88.182% being oxygen” [1]. When bonded it…

Overview of Fermentation Fermentation is looked as an anaerobic process. The process breaks down glucose in the absence of oxygen. The energy released from glucose would convert into acids, gases or alcohol. Fermentation would take place when the electron transport chain would not be used. Fermentation would occur in yeast cells, bacteria and in muscle cells of animals. For most methods of fermentation metabolism, glycolysis would involve the breaking down of 6 carbons into two…

Sugar is an organic compound with different sweetness levels. Sucrose is white crystal refined from beet plant or the cane. It is has two sugars (disaccharide) - glucose and fructose that is broken into simple sugars. Primary sugar present in refined corn syrup and fruits are fructose, while glucose is the only brain fuel that also provides body energy as it’s transported in the blood stream. How sugar is utilized in the body Digestion of unprocessed, natural and whole food produces all…

An Investigation into the Activity of Alpha-amylase Enzyme in Relation to Temperature and PH Introduction: The role of amylase in plants is the breakdown of starches so that they can be used as energy in the first stages of early growth (wise geek, [B] 2016). Enzymes are extremely efficient natural catalysts that are found in cells, they work by lowering the activation energy of a reaction and providing an alternative reaction pathway. Enzymes are very specific, only catalysing certain reactions…