BIOCHEMISTRY

Biochemistry



Biochemistry

Introduction

In order to conduct this research report o have chosen the two articles, one is “Structure of an atom” and the other is “Cell Metabolism is a Defining Feature of Life”.

Summary of Articles

In the first article the author said Atoms are the building blocks of all matter. It is through the reactions of atoms that organisms come into existence. The human body, for example, consists of the products of numerous complex, chemical reactions and is held together by natural, physical forces (Teisseire, 2000). Developing an understanding of the atom and its components is a foundational concept for understanding life. Atoms contain three particles that are of great importance to the identification and behavior of an atom.

Protons - particles with a positive electrical charge

Neutrons - particles with a neutral or no charge

Electrons - particles with a negative charge.

The number of protons dictates the identity of an atom, which is called an element. For example, one proton is a hydrogen atom. Oxygen has eight protons. This never changes. If the number of protons changes, the element changes.

Whereas, in the second article the author says, Cells are the smallest living things and all organisms are composed of cells. Bacteria are single cell entities; they are prokaryotes, which mean they have no nucleus (Sternberg, 2002). Metabolism is one of the three attributes which define life. A living entity at some point in its life cycle will:

Metabolize

Grow, offspring are initially smaller than parents

Reproduce, only mature organisms reproduce.

Many living things (such as people) do not grow and reproduce all the time, but metabolism is constantly taking place in almost all living things (a rare exception is the Brine Shrimp).

Animals, plants, bacteria and all cells have a life cycle which includes these three attributes. Body maintenance is the process of getting rid of old waste products and replacing with new, for example, millions of human body cells are dying and being replaced every second(Chmielewska, 2001). An example of body repair would be new human skin replacing the old cuts and grazes.

Metabolism takes place within cells. As stated, each cell is a living unit. The external surface of a cell is its membrane which is very thin but restricts molecules moving in and out of the cell. It is selectively permeable so that it can control which molecules pass through it. Most metabolisms take place in the cytoplasm, i.e., everything within the membrane except the cell nucleus.

Note, a ...