Reflecting back on the course, what are three major themes you would identify that connect the various topics discussed in this course – how are they connected to more than one topic, and how do they connect with what you knew before this course?  What knowledge have you gained with regards to these three themes you have identified?

The three major themes in this class have been Nucleic acids, enzymes and energy production. We went into deep detail about how each apply to biochemistry but also how they apply to different diseases and how they can can be altered to cure those diseases. All three are crucial to all life and keeping the transfer of energy and genetics flowing. These topics can be discussed in not only biochemistry but in almost every biology course taught because they are the reason why there is life and differentiation between individuals.

Nucleic acids were a common theme throughout this course and were really focused on when we looked at translation. Nucleic acids contain our genetic makeup and the genes that are made up of them are what make us unique. If there is a mutation in that gene the expression could be much different than what it was originally, it could be beneficial and it can also be benign. This class reinforced how they were assembled from the bases up to the DNA strands.
 

Enzymes are very crucial in not only catalyzing reactions within the cell but they are also important in keeping the cell running as it is suppose to one mutation and the cell can turn cancerous . We talked a lot about enzymes in class, recently we have talked about the metabolism of glucose and the processes  including glycolysis, Krebs cycle and the oxidation phosphorylation.This class helped reinforce how important enzymes are in all processes in the body.

Energy in the form of ATP is our main energy source that runs most of our bodily processes and keeps our hearts beating and our neurons firing. ATP  is produced during many cycles in the body but primarily in the Krebs cycle. We have talked about the Krebs cycle a lot in the past few weeks of class and my presentation involved the cycle in it as a way to differentiate between cancerous cells and regular cells.

How would you explain the connection between glucose entering the body and energy created by the body to a friend, using your new biochemistry knowledge?

How would you explain the connection between glucose entering the body and energy created by the body to a friend, using your new biochemistry knowledge?

First stage is cellular respiration which happens within the cytoplasm. In  this stage enzymes interact with glucose and oxidizes it by taking away some of its electrons. . Two electrons and one proton are added onto a  coenzyme NAD+ to produce the NADH molecule. Glycolysis produces NADH, 2 pyruvate molecules and 2 ATP for every glucose molecule broken down. . The second stage is The citric acid cycle which only uses the Pyruvate molecules that came from the Glycolysis. The citric acid cyles takes place in mitochondria and only takes place if oxygen is present at the time (Aerobic metabolism). When pyruvate molecules enter the cell's mitochondria. Carbon dioxide is released which changes the molecules composition. Enzymes interact with these changed molecules and as did the glucose the pyruvate is oxidized losing some of its electrons. NADH and FADH2 molecules are formed. The citric acid cycle produces carbon dioxide, NADH, FADH2 and energy in the form of ATP. The NADH and FADH2 molecules move onto the 3rd stage oxidative phosphorylation stage. This stage as was the citric acid cycle is present in the the cell's mitochondria. The electrons that are oxidized from the NADH and the FADH2 are used in the electron transport chain which helps synthesize 34 ATP per glucose molecule absorbed which is the energy the body mostly uses to perform its processes.  Sources: mpbell, Mary K, and Shawn O Ferrell. Biochemistry. N.p.: Brooks/Cole, 2011. N. pag. Print.

What knowledge has connected with past knowledge?

       This last half of the semester the knowledge I have connected back to past knowledge has been the concept of chemical pathways in the body and the cycles that produce energy within the cell. With the chemical pathways the review was good because information was gone over that i haven't revisited since first semester freshman year. Understanding the difference between active and passive transport coupled with facilitated transport is key when working with medicines on how to administer the drug  and diseases on how to either treat the disease or dull the effects. Also the knowledge of how the cells produce energy in the form of ATP is crucial in identifying which cells are performing correctly. The presentation I did in class on how to treat cancer with Pyruvate Kinase Isozymes showed that a simple enzyme can make a cell go from energy producing in the form of aerobic metabolism of glucose (citric acid cycle) for the body to anaerobic metabolism using the energy to produce more cancer cells which is harmful to the body. By reviewing these two points it helped better understand the more advanced topics used in class.