Basic Sciences Flashcards

Which of these elements is NOT a constituent of Carbohydrates?

Answer: Nitrogen

Carbohydrates strictly consist of Carbon, and the components of Water ('hydro') - Hydrogen & Oxygen. Hence, Carbo+Hydrate

Another word that might describe complex carbohydrates is...

Answer: Polysaccharide

poly means "many"; a complex carbohydrate consists of many simpler carbohydrate molecules linked together.

Carbon is the basis for carbohydrates and all other biologically important molecules. All of the following are reasons why Carbon lends itself to being the basic building block of life on our planet - except for one. Which statement is incorrect?

Answer: Carbon is a very dense & heavy element, giving living things stability.

Carbon is not so dense and heavy as to be the reason for stable biomolecules. Their stability comes from a variety of factors, including bonds, molecule shape, size & molecular mass.

As a component of Carbohydrates, Oxygen is very important, too. Which of the following statements is incorrect about the way Oxygen behaves as part of a molecule?

Answer: The presence of oxygen in Carbohydrates makes them highly insoluble in water.

Actually, the reverse is true: Oxygen enhances a molecule's solubility in water.

Which of these functional groups are you not going to find in a carbohydrate?

Answer: Sulfhydryl -SH

Sulfur is not a component of the Carbohydrates. It is found in some amino acids & proteins.

The sugars glucose, fructose, and galactose all belong to which category of carbohydrates?

Answer: Monosaccharides

They're all single-ring structures, hence 'mono'.

The sugars lactose, maltose, and sucrose all belong to which category of carbohydrates?

Answer: Disaccharides

They all have a double ring structure, hence 'di'

Which of the following is NOT a role of Carbohydrates in a cell or organism?

Answer: Formation of muscle tissues & bone in vertebrate bodies

Although we tend to think of carbs as a high-energy nutrient, they have other roles: chitin makes up the exoskeletons of insects & crustaceans, cellulose is the supporting fibre of herbaceous plants, and starches & sugars play a role in osmoregulation of cells, too. Protein is responsible for forming muscle & bone.

Which of the following is not a monosaccharide?

Answer: Sucrose

Sucrose is not a monosaccharide because it is a disaccharide composed of two monosaccharides, glucose and fructose, joined together by a glycosidic bond. Monosaccharides, on the other hand, are single sugar molecules that cannot be broken down into smaller sugar units. Glucose, fructose, and galactose are all monosaccharides because they consist of a single sugar unit.

In 1993, _________ received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for inventing PCR?

Answer: Kary Mullis

Kary Mullis received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993 for inventing PCR, which stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction. PCR is a technique used in molecular biology to amplify a specific segment of DNA. Mullis' invention revolutionized the field of genetics and had a profound impact on various scientific disciplines. His work has enabled advancements in DNA sequencing, genetic testing, forensic analysis, and disease diagnosis, making him a deserving recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.