StudyXY
RegisterLog in
Back to AI Flashcard MakerBiology /BIOL1020 - Lecture 6 - Cellular Energy

BIOL1020 - Lecture 6 - Cellular Energy

Biology15 CardsCreated 3 months ago

This deck covers key concepts from BIOL1020 Lecture 6, focusing on cellular energy, metabolism, and thermodynamics. It includes definitions, properties of reactions, and the significance of energy transformations in biological systems.

PrintEmbedImportReport

In living organisms, what are energy conversions linked to?

Chemical reactions called metabolism. The totality of an organism’s chemical reactions arises from interactions between molecules and transforms matter and energy, subject to the laws of thermodynamics.
Tap or swipe ↕ to flip
Swipe ←→Navigate
1/15

Key Terms

Term
Definition
In living organisms, what are energy conversions linked to?
Chemical reactions called metabolism. The totality of an organism’s chemical reactions arises from interactions between molecules and transforms matte...
How does the second law of thermodynamics relate to biology?
An open system (living organism) needs constant energy input to maintain itself, because it is always losing energy to the universe.
What is Gibbs free energy?
Amount of energy in a system that can be used to do work while pressure and temperature remain constant. For a chemical reaction, the most important p...
How can metabolic reactions be classified?
Based on the change in free energy (G) during the reaction. They can break down molecules/release energy (catabolic reactions = negative delta G) or t...
What are exergonic reactions?
Negative change in Gibbs free energy (G). Energy level of reactants is higher than the energy level of the products, therefore delta G is -ve. Know di...
Describe exergonic reaction in catabolism.
Enzymes, e.g., DNA polymerase, lower the activation energy, which makes the reaction more likely to proceed.
Log in to view all terms

Related Flashcard Decks

Biology

A-LEVEL PE (OCR): PAPER 3 - Ethics and Deviance in Sport

These flashcards describe key performance-enhancing methods, including blood doping—a technique used to increase red blood cell count and oxygen-carrying capacity, commonly by endurance athletes—and anabolic steroids, which boost strength, aggression, and training capacity. They highlight how these methods aim to enhance performance, often through artificial physiological manipulation.

21 cards
View Deck
Biology

A-LEVEL PE (OCR): PAPER 1 - Energy for Exercise

These flashcards cover fundamental concepts of cellular energy, including ATP as the primary energy source for muscular contraction, the role of the enzyme ATPase in ATP breakdown, and the definition of exothermic reactions that release energy. They provide a concise overview of how energy is produced and utilized in biological systems.

47 cards
View Deck
Biology

3MB Psychiatry: Neurobiology of Mood

This flashcard set explains the brain’s appetitive (approach) and aversive (defensive) mood systems, describing how they drive behaviour toward reward or avoidance of threat, and identifies the key neurotransmitters associated with each—dopamine for approach and serotonin for avoidance.

8 cards
View Deck
Biology

Psychology - Chapter 3 Biological Psychology Part 3

This deck covers key concepts from Chapter 3 of Biological Psychology, focusing on brain structures and their functions, including the occipital lobe, limbic system, brain stem, and nervous systems.

23 cards
View Deck
Biology

Psychology - Chapter 3 Biological Psychology Part 2

This flashcard deck covers key concepts from Chapter 3 of Biological Psychology, focusing on neurotransmitters, brain structures, and their functions.

25 cards
View Deck
Biology

Animal Behaviour - Applied Cat Ethology

In applied cat ethology, behavioural genetics are primarily inherited through the paternal line. This means certain behavioural traits, such as temperament or sociability, can be strongly influenced by the genetics of the sire (father).

56 cards
View Deck

Study Tips

  • Press F to enter focus mode for distraction-free studying
  • Review cards regularly to improve retention
  • Try to recall the answer before flipping the card
  • Share this deck with friends to study together
BIOL1020 - Lecture 6 - Cellular Energy
TermDefinition
In living organisms, what are energy conversions linked to?
Chemical reactions called metabolism. The totality of an organism’s chemical reactions arises from interactions between molecules and transforms matter and energy, subject to the laws of thermodynamics.
How does the second law of thermodynamics relate to biology?
An open system (living organism) needs constant energy input to maintain itself, because it is always losing energy to the universe.
What is Gibbs free energy?
Amount of energy in a system that can be used to do work while pressure and temperature remain constant. For a chemical reaction, the most important parameter is the CHANGE in Gibbs free energy (delta G) that occurs during a reaction. Delta G = G(final state) - G(initial state).
How can metabolic reactions be classified?
Based on the change in free energy (G) during the reaction. They can break down molecules/release energy (catabolic reactions = negative delta G) or they can synthesise molecules/consume energy (anabolic reactions = positive delta G).
What are exergonic reactions?
Negative change in Gibbs free energy (G). Energy level of reactants is higher than the energy level of the products, therefore delta G is -ve. Know diagram.
Describe exergonic reaction in catabolism.
Enzymes, e.g., DNA polymerase, lower the activation energy, which makes the reaction more likely to proceed.
What is activation energy?
Activation energy (barrier) is what prevents reactions from proceeding as soon as the reactants are present.
What are the properties of exergonic reactions?
Negative delta G, releases energy during reaction, has activation energy barrier, reactant energy level = HIGH, product energy level = LOW, typical for catabolism/energy generation.
Describe endergonic reactions.
Low reactant energy level, high product energy level, requires energy input to drive reaction, but still has an activation energy barrier, +ve delta G.
What cellular materials are synthesised from endergonic reactions?
Pretty much all of them. - DNA, lipids, amino acids.
What are the properties of endergonic reactions?
Positive delta G, consumes energy during reaction, has an activation energy barrier, reactant energy level = LOW, product energy level = HIGH, used in anabolism.
Why is metabolism important?
Without metabolism cells cannot survive. Metabolic pathways and enzymes determine the ‘lifestyles’ that an organism can adopt. Interactions between human cells and microbes are based on the exchange of the product of metabolism.
What reaction releases the energy stored in bonds of ATP?
Hydrolysis - because the phosphate groups want to get away from each other. Because ADP has less electrostatic repulsion and therefore has a lower potential energy.
What is a couple reaction?
In cells reactions that release energy (exergonic) are used to provide the energy for energy requiring reactions (endergonic). The energy is usually provided by ATP or related compounds.
Explain and describe DNA synthesis.
DNA polymerisation combines two exergonic reactions: 1) the breaking of phosphoanhydride bond in a nucleotide of an O-H bond. and one 2) energonic reaction the formation of a new phosphodiester bond between two nucleotides.