Bioenergetics is the studies of how organisms manage their energy resources and how energy is transformed in biological systems.it is the studies of the energy changes accompanying biochemical reactions.it provides the underlying principles to explain why some reactions may occur while others do not.
The change in free Gibb's energy or the Gibb's free energy is that portion of the total energy change in a system that is available for doing work.
if the change in free Gibbs energy is positive,the reaction is endergonic and non-spontaneous.
if the change in free Gibbs energy is negative,the reaction is exergonic and spontaneous.
at equilibrium,the change in free Gibbs energy is zero.
the first law of thermodynamics states that the total energy of a system including its surroundings,remains constant.However,the energy may be transformed or tranfered to another form of energy.
The second law of thermodynamics states that the total entropy of the system must increase for a reaction to occur spontaneously.Entropy is the measure of the degree of randomness and disorder of a system while enthalpy is the heat content of a system.Entropy is a portion of the enthalphy that is not available to do useful work.
Catabolism is an exergonic process releasing energy that involves the break down and oxidation of molecules.
Anabolism is an endergonic process requiring energy input that involves the building up of substances.
A metabolism consists of catabolism and anabolism.it is the sum of the chemical reactions of biomolecules in an organism.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Bioenergetics and thermodynamics studies in biochemical reaction.
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Tuesday, October 13, 2009
blood clots!!!!
When bleeding from a wound suddenly occurs, the platelets gather at the wound and attempt to block the blood flow. The mineral calcium, vitamin K, and a protein called fibrinogen help the platelets form a clot.
A clot begins to form when the blood is exposed to air. The platelets sense the presence of air and begin to break apart. They react with the fibrinogen to begin forming fibrin, which resembles tiny threads. The fibrin threads then begin to form a web-like mesh that traps the blood cells within it. This mesh of blood cells hardens as it dries, forming a clot, or "scab."
Calcium and vitamin K must be present in blood to support the formation of clots.
bruise, or black-and-blue mark, is the result of a blood clot. Both scabs and bruises are clots that lead to healing.
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Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Muscle contraction and nervous system
muscle fibre consists of thin and thick filament.Thin filament is made up of actin filament with troponin attached to it.The thick filament consists of the myosin filament .Myosin filament has a head and a tail.The myosin head contain ATPase enzyme.
For a muscular contraction to be carried out,the nervous system transmits nerve impulse to the neuromuscular junction.This causes the presynaptic membrane to release acetycholine to the synaptic cleft.This neurotransmitters enter the postsynaptic membrane and causes depolarisation of post synaptic membrane.Action potential is generated and nerve impulse is transmited to the sarcolemma and to the sarcoplasmic reticulum.This cause sarcoplasmic reticulum to release calcium ions to the sarcoplasm.The calcium ion binds to the troponin and causes the binding site of the actin filament to be exposed.calcium ion also binds to the myosin head and causes the ATP on the head to undergo hydrolysis to form ADP and P which are still attached to the myosin head.The myosin head is energised and it bind to the binding site of the actin filament to form actomyosin cross-bridge.The myosin head pulls the actin filament slide over the thick filament .Another ATP attaches to the myosin head and causes comformational change of the myosin head.The head detaches from the actin filament and is hydrolysed again.The attaching and detaching processes cause muscle to contract.After muscle contraction, the calcium ions detach from the myosin head and troponin.They are collected back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum.Acetylcholinesterase hydrolyses the acetylcholine.The neuromuscular junction returns to its resting state.the muscle is relaxed.
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Monday, September 7, 2009
Phloem
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Sunday, September 6, 2009
Xylem
There are 4 types of xylem tissues:
~tracheid
~Xylem vessel
~xylem fibre
~xylem parenchyma
The main function of xylem tissues is for the transport of water and mineral and for support.
TRANSPORT & SUPPORT:
Tracheid: The tracheids are elongated, dead cells, with tapering ends.It is strengthened with the lignified secondary cell wall. The tapering ends overlap and interlock with each other ,increasing its strength.They have pits to connect to lumens of other cells.This allows water to move from one tracheid to another and to the surrounding cells.tracheids are the main water conducting ducts in ferns and conifer.Tracheids:
Xylem vessel :They are only found in angiosperms.They are cylindrical dead cells in which most water travels.Thus,it has no cytoplasmic content and no protoplasm.They have a bigger diameter than tracheids.The end walls of then vessels are perforated with large pores or completely disintegrated to allow continuous flow of water.The deposition of lignin in the secondary wall is not always uniform. As a result, the xylem vessels exhibit different types of secondary thickenings. On this basis, xylem vessels can be distinguished into five types.
~Annular
~spiral
~scalariform
~reticulate
~pitted
SUPPORT ONLY:
Xylem fibres : they are dead cells with lignified cell walls.they support the plant tissues.
PACKING TISSUES :
Xylem parenchyma : They are the only living xylem tissue. they are used to store food.
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The Leaf Structure
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