Coming into this class, I was unsure of anything related to Chemistry. I honestly believe that I was able to make it through General Chem I and II because we were allowed "cheat sheets" for the exams and because I am a whiz at the hands on lab experiments, even if I am unsure of what it is accomplishing/or why I am doing it. So my expectations of having any "lightbulb moments" as I like to call them, were few and far between.
Instead I have found that topics, previously discussed about through other courses, began to really make sense. Examples of a few "lightbulb moments" include understanding the naming of various items; carbon monoxide - CO in chemical form has only one (mono) oxygen molecule (oxide) or carbon dioixde - CO2 has two (di) oxygen molecules. It may seem incredibly simple, but it the naming convention of chemicals always seemed so abstract to me and this was a real turning point to my understanding of why and how items are labeled. Another example of the naming convention would be triacylglycerides - three (tri) fatty acids (acyl) glycerol (glycerides). This shows that there are three fatty acid tails attached to a glycerol molecule. Could it really be any more simple? I feel like a dolt for not picking up on this sooner!
My other "lightbulb moment" came when we were discussing the titration scale and pH, and how/why it works the way it does. The titration curve will have either two or three regions of rise, plateau and rise again before leveling off at the upper portion of the curve, this is known as a diprotic or triprotic curve. The curves illustrate an amino acid, composed of a carboxyl group, amine group and sometimes an R group, and how the hydrogen ion is removed from each group mentioned. Additionally, the curves show us if the solution is acidic (low concentration of hydrogen ions and negatively charged), basic (high concentration of hydrogen ions and positively charged), or neutral (with no net charge and hydrogen ions at a state of equilibrium). Furthermore, the curve shows us the pH for the amino acid when it is 50% transferred from one group set to the next, this also allows us to determine the proper buffering zone of +/- 1 from the pH. Finally, the PI value, indicates when the amino acid has reached an equilibrium with the hydrogen ions, this molecule is known as a zwitterion containing no net charge.
These may not seem like really great or fantastic connections to be made, but they really have opened my eyes to all that Biochemistry has to offer. So rather than approaching this class with a deeply rooted, and rather absurd, fear of chemistry, I will be approaching all further topics with a level of curiosity to truly see what connections I can make with data I already have.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Check out this site!!
Never took Organic Chemistry and looking for a website that gives a basic description of Biochemistry principles so that you can build your knowledge base? Or maybe you know what you are talking about but want to present it to a younger student, or your own child. Then you should check out www.chem4kids.com.
The website provides children and adults alike with a firm introductory base into the concepts of general chemistry and, more importantly to me, biochemistry; including lipids, nucleic acids, amino acid and their structures, and proteins and enzymes.
Simple and colorful diagrams of structures make the topics interesting and engaging. Being that I wish to teach children about science in the future, I found this website a rather helpful tool to help spark an interest into science with younger children. Keeping science fun and interesting will help foster the desire to dig deeper into sciences than just the required courses taken during middle school and high school. I walked though this website with my own daughter, age 11, and the level of excitement from her about this science website was greater than anything I had prevoiusly seen her display about the teachings she receives in school. I would highly recommend this website to anyone to spark an interest!
The website provides children and adults alike with a firm introductory base into the concepts of general chemistry and, more importantly to me, biochemistry; including lipids, nucleic acids, amino acid and their structures, and proteins and enzymes.
Simple and colorful diagrams of structures make the topics interesting and engaging. Being that I wish to teach children about science in the future, I found this website a rather helpful tool to help spark an interest into science with younger children. Keeping science fun and interesting will help foster the desire to dig deeper into sciences than just the required courses taken during middle school and high school. I walked though this website with my own daughter, age 11, and the level of excitement from her about this science website was greater than anything I had prevoiusly seen her display about the teachings she receives in school. I would highly recommend this website to anyone to spark an interest!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Collagen - What is it?
Collagen is the most abundant protein that is found in our bodies. It is located in everything from our skin, to the tendons that connect our muscles to bones, and the cartilage of our ears and noses. The proteins help to provide structure, flexibility, or pliability to the various structures of our body.
The protein molecule is comprised of three chains, each containing over 1,400 different amino acids chained together. These three chains fold together to create a triple helix. The molecule is used in a variety of beauty treatments, including facial care and skin creams. These products claim to replace the collagen that has been lost by the body as we age, though there really doesn't appear to be any qualitative data to show the benefits of utilizing these treatments.
Regardless of how marketing departments try to spin collagen toward attracting new customers to their products, it is important to remember that it is an extremely important protein to the function of our bodies.
The protein molecule is comprised of three chains, each containing over 1,400 different amino acids chained together. These three chains fold together to create a triple helix. The molecule is used in a variety of beauty treatments, including facial care and skin creams. These products claim to replace the collagen that has been lost by the body as we age, though there really doesn't appear to be any qualitative data to show the benefits of utilizing these treatments.
Regardless of how marketing departments try to spin collagen toward attracting new customers to their products, it is important to remember that it is an extremely important protein to the function of our bodies.
What is Biochemistry really?
I have never been very comfortable with chemistry. I haven always gone out of my way to avoid it by taking more biology courses in high school and college. When I was informed that I had to take organic chemistry or biochemistry in order to become state certified to teach and that it was a recommended course for physicians assistance school, I panicked! I managed to do okay with general chemistry, but this was making me nervous.
Thankfully, one if the first assignments was to find out how biochemistry differs from genetics, biology, molecular biology, and chemistry. What I found put my fears to ease. All of these various science fields have a symbiotic relationship with a bit of overlapping.
Biology is the study of life and living organisms, that focuses on a general overview of the origin of life, evolution, structures and their functions, growth patterns, life cycles, and species classification. Chemistry is the review and explanation of chemical reactions, chemical bonds, intractiins and products created between various atoms. Genetics is the study of genetic differences and how they occur, including heredity and mutations. Lastly, Molecular Biology is the study of cell replication, transcription, translation and cellular function.
Biochemistry encompasses much of these disciplines in an attempt to understand the chemistry of biological processes, along with the role, function and structures of biomolecules. Upon listening to the lectures of the first few weeks of class, I found that this topic is not at all scary but rather connects some dots with topics that I have already been presented. Biochemistry is not a topic to be feared, but rather a topic that presents future scientists with a more indepth understanding of topics already learned.
So from one scared science major, a word of advise...just go for it! The knowledge base that you will obtain will far outweigh any preconcieved anxieties!
Thankfully, one if the first assignments was to find out how biochemistry differs from genetics, biology, molecular biology, and chemistry. What I found put my fears to ease. All of these various science fields have a symbiotic relationship with a bit of overlapping.
Biology is the study of life and living organisms, that focuses on a general overview of the origin of life, evolution, structures and their functions, growth patterns, life cycles, and species classification. Chemistry is the review and explanation of chemical reactions, chemical bonds, intractiins and products created between various atoms. Genetics is the study of genetic differences and how they occur, including heredity and mutations. Lastly, Molecular Biology is the study of cell replication, transcription, translation and cellular function.
Biochemistry encompasses much of these disciplines in an attempt to understand the chemistry of biological processes, along with the role, function and structures of biomolecules. Upon listening to the lectures of the first few weeks of class, I found that this topic is not at all scary but rather connects some dots with topics that I have already been presented. Biochemistry is not a topic to be feared, but rather a topic that presents future scientists with a more indepth understanding of topics already learned.
So from one scared science major, a word of advise...just go for it! The knowledge base that you will obtain will far outweigh any preconcieved anxieties!
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