VCE Stuff > VCE Biology
VCE Biology Question Thread
MM1:
Why are proteins not preferred energy sources whilst carbohydrates are? What are the reasons?
DJA:
--- Quote from: MM1 on December 27, 2013, 03:43:01 pm ---Why are proteins not preferred energy sources whilst carbohydrates are? What are the reasons?
--- End quote ---
My understanding of this is because carbohydrates (I'm thinking more specifically of glucose here which is the monosaccharide which comprises a lot of polysaccharides and disaccharides such as maltose, starch and glycogen) are used in aerobic cell respiration which is the primary mode for cells to create energy to allow it to function.
Cellular respiration is the process whereby living cells get their energy to function and this process requires glucose (C6H12O6) as a critical part of the equation
C6H12O6 + O2 ---> CO2 + H2O (+ Energy)
Thus carbohydrates are the preferred energy source.
Whereas proteins function primarily in structural roles (collagen and keratin), contractile roles (myosin and actin found in muscle tissue) and catalytic/regulartory roles etc. Note that amino acids are the basic subunits of proteins. While certain amino acids can aid energy productions, they are not directly part of any biological process to produce energy as far as I know.
DJA:
My question is what is the difference between the 5' and 3' ends of a DNA strand and more importantly, is this knowledge required for the VCE course?
Thanks in advance.
vox nihili:
--- Quote from: DJALogical on December 27, 2013, 04:27:37 pm ---My question is what is the difference between the 5' and 3' ends of a DNA strand and more importantly, is this knowledge required for the VCE course?
Thanks in advance.
--- End quote ---
The 3' is the -OH end and the 5' is the phosphate end. Yes this knowledge is required for the VCE course. You will have to know the direction of replication and transcription of DNA with respects to this configuration.
Stick:
--- Quote from: t-rav on December 27, 2013, 04:31:38 pm ---The 3' is the -OH end and the 5' is the phosphate end. Yes this knowledge is required for the VCE course. You will have to know the direction of replication and transcription of DNA with respects to this configuration.
--- End quote ---
Here's a good way to remember:
Five - Phosphate (same sound)
Three - Free (no phosphate) (similar word)
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version