Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES

University Town, Northern Samar

GRADUATE STUDIES

Camposano, Chona D.

Molecular Biology

Pre-Test

May 22, 2021

1. In tabulated format, present the 4 major biomolecules in terms of their gen functions, monomer
units, polymer units, and examples and the chemical bonds that connects monomer units

BIOMOLECULE FUNCTIONS MONOMER POLYMER UNITS, AND EXAMPLES BOND

UNITS INVOLVED
CARBOHYDRATES  Energy Monosaccharides Monosaccharides Glucose, Glycosidic link
Source fructose,
 short galactose
term-
storage Sugar, starch
(potatoes, pasta,
etc.)

PROTEIN  Provide Amino acid Polypeptide Meat, poultry, Peptide bond

Structure eggs, beans, soy,
 Aid in nuts, peanut
muscle butter, enzymes
movement
 Provide
immunity

LIPIDS  Thermal Made up of 3 Made up of 3 Fats, oils, waxes, Ester linkages

insulation Fatty Acids and 1 Fatty Acids and 1 membranes
 Long glycercol glycercol
term
storage
NUCLEIC ACID  Holds the Nucleotide Polynucleotide DNA = Phosphodiester
genetic stranad deoxyribonucleic bond
code acid
RNA =
ribonucleic acid
2. from smallest to biggest present the ff with a brief description of each: answer briefly

A. HEIRARCHY OF LIFE
Molecule

Atoms, smallest unit of chemical elements, constitute molecules. You will see them in all matters, whether
they are alive or not. The fundamental systems of living organisms are composed of molecules.
Biochemistry and molecular biology are two biological disciplines which concentrate on this level.

Cell

The fundamental unit of life is a cell. Two cells are present: plant cells with a solid molecule cell shell, and
animal cells with translucent cell membranes. Cell biologists address issues such as metabolism and other
composition and functional questions inside and between cells.

Tissue

Tissue consists of cells working together to accomplish a specific mission. Some tissue types include
muscle tissue, connective tissue and neural tissue.

Organ

An organ is a tissue structure that works in greater numbers to perform certain tasks inside the body of
an animal Examples of organs are the brain, heart and lungs.

Organ System

An organ system is a group of organ that works to perform certain body functions in conjunction. For eg,
the respiratory system inhales oxygen and releases carbon dioxide from the lungs, airways and respiratory
muscle.

Organism

An organism is a recognizable, self-contained individual. Organisms can be unicellular organisms such as

bacteria or amoebae, or multi-cellular organisms comprised of organs and organ systems. A human being
is an example of a multi-cellular organism.

Population

A population is a group of multiple organisms of the same species within a specific area. For example, a
pride of lions in Kenya, Africa, is a population.

Community

A community consists of all the different species within a certain area. The population of lions in Kenya,
plus the populations of gazelles, giraffes, elephants, dung beetles, and all other species in that area, add
up to a community.

Ecosystem
An ecosystem is made up of all the communities in a certain area, as well as all the non-living, physical
components of the environment. Rocks, water and dirt are a part of an ecosystem. Ecologists may study
populations, communities, or whole ecosystems.

Biosphere

The biosphere is all of the ecosystems on Earth added together. Every animal, plant, bacteria, rock, and
molecule is a part of the Earth's biosphere. Non-biologists, such as meteorologists and geologists, may
join biologists to answer questions at this level of biology organization.

B. STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL BASIS OF HEREDITY

A gene is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity. DNA consists of genes. Any genes serve
as guides for the production of protein molecules. Many genomes, however, are not protein coding. The
scale of genes in humans varies from several hundred DNA bases and over 2 million basis bases.
International scientific initiative, the Human Genome Project, has predicted that humans have between
20,000 and 25,000 genes, which aimed to ascertain the sequence of the human genome and to classify
certain genes that it contains.

a. hierarchy

Biological hierarchy refers to the systemic organization of organisms into levels, such as the Linnaean
taxonomy (a biological classification set up by Carl Linnaeus). It organizes living things in descending levels
of complexity: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. Hierarchies are important to
inform evolutionary biologists on the way living systems are organized throughout history and theories
how extinct animals function based on their positions on the hierarchy. Hierarchy is also a property of
gene-regulatory networks that play a central role in the development of organisms. Philosopher Michael
Morange postulates that to understand “the logic of life, we need to understand its structural hierarchy”.
3. Compare and Contrast ( TABULATED FORMAT)

A. Prokaryotes Vs Eukaryotes

Difference Between Prokaryotic And Eukaryotic Cells

Prokaryotic Cells Eukaryotic Cells
Definition Prokaryotic Cell: Prokaryotic Eukaryotic Cell: Eukaryotic cells
cells don’t possess nucleus and possess membrane-bound
membrane-bound organelles. organelles including the nucleus.

Size of the cell Prokaryotic Cell: These cells are Eukaryotic Cell: These cells are
normally 0.2 to 2 µm in normally 10 to 100 µm in
diameter. diameter.

Nucleus Prokaryotic Cell: Prokaryotic Eukaryotic Cell: Eukaryotic cells

cells have no true nucleus, no consist of a true nucleus with
nuclear membranes or nucleoli. nuclear membranes and
nucleoli.
DNA

DNA Prokaryotic Cell: Prokaryotic Eukaryotic Cell: Eukaryotic cells

cells consist of single, circular consist of multiple, linear
DNA molecule in the nucleoid, chromosomes in the nucleus.
They don’t have histones or They contain Histones, and
exons. exons.

Membrane-bound Prokaryotic Cell: Prokaryotic Eukaryotic Cell: Membrane-

Organelles cells do not have membrane- bound organelles such as
bound organelles. mitochondria, chloroplast, ER
and vesicles are present.

Flagella Prokaryotic Cell: Flagella are Eukaryotic Cell: Some cells

. made up of two proteins. without cell wall contain flagella

Glycocalyx Prokaryotic Cell: Glycocalyx acts Eukaryotic Cell: Some

as a capsule. eukaryotic cells that don’t have
cell walls possess a glycocalyx.

Cell Wall Prokaryotic Cell: Prokaryotic Eukaryotic Cell: Eukaryotic cells

cells are mostly made up of are made up of cellulose, chitin
peptidoglycans. They are and pectin. Prokaryotic cells are
chemically complex. chemically simple.

Plasma Membrane Prokaryotic Cell: Carbohydrates Eukaryotic Cell: Carbohydrates

and sterols are not found in the and sterols serves as receptors
plasma membrane. on the plasma membrane.
 Cytoplasm Prokaryotic Cell: Prokaryotic Eukaryotic Cell: Eukaryotic cells
cells are primitive cytoskeleton have complex cytoskeleton with
with no cytoplasmic streaming. cytoplasmic streaming.

Ribosomes Prokaryotic Cell: Prokaryotic Eukaryotic Cell: Eukaryotic cells

cells are small in size, 70S. are large in size, 80S. 70S
ribosomes are present in
organelles like mitochondria and
chloroplast.

Cell Division Prokaryotic Cell: Cell division Eukaryotic Cell: Cell division
occurs through binary fission. takes place through mitosis.

Sexual Reproduction Prokaryotic Cell: No sexual Eukaryotic Cell: Sexual

reproduction, horizontal gene reproduction happens through
transfer and recombination can meiosis.
be observed.

Examples Prokaryotic Cell: Bacteria and Eukaryotic Cell: Protista, fungi,

archaea are examples plants and animals are
examples.

B. Plant Cell Vs Animal Cell

Difference Between Plant and Animal Cell

Cell Wall Plant Cells: Plant cells are Animal Cells: Animal cells don’t
composed of a cell wall made up possess a cell wall. Thus, animal
of cellulose. cells can change the shape of the
cell often.
Size of the Cell Plant Cells: Plant cells are Animal Cells: Animal cells are
usually larger in size. comparatively smaller in size.
Shape Plant Cells: Animal cells have a Animal Cells: Plant cells have a
rectangular, fixed shape. round, irregular shape.
Vacuole Plant Cells: They have one or Animal Cells: They have one,
more, comparatively very large, central vacuole taking 90%
smaller vacuoles. of cell volume.
Centrioles Plant Cells: Centrioles are Animal Cells: Centrioles are
present in lower forms of plants. present in all animals.

Cholroplast Plant Cells: Plant cells are
composed of chloroplast to
produce their own food. Hence,
plant cells are autotophs.
Lysosomes Plant Cells: They don’t have
lysosomes.
Animal Cells: Animals cells do
not contain chloroplast. Hence,
animal cells are heterotrophs.
Animal Cells: They consist of
lysosomes in the cytoplasm.
 Glyoxysomes Plant Cells: They are composed Animal Cells: They don’t have
of glyoxysomes. glyoxysomes.

Junctions Plant Cells: They are composed Animal Cells: Tight junctions and
of plasmodesmata as cell desmosomes are present as
junctions. junctions.

Food Reservation Plant Cells: They reserve food in Animal Cells: They reserve food
the form of starch. in the form of glycogen.
Amino Acid and Coenzyme
Synthesis Plant Cells: Plant cells synthesize Animal Cells: Animal cells are
all required amino acids, unable to synthesize all amino
coenzymes and vitamins by acids, coenzymes and vitamins
themselves. required by them.

Spindle Formation Plant Cells: Spindle formation is Animal Cells: Spindle formation
anastral. is amphiastral.

Cell Burst Plant Cells: Plant cells do not Animal Cells: Animal cells will
burst under hypotonic burst under hypotonic
conditions due to the presence conditions.
of cell wall.

C. DNA VS RNA

Difference Between DNA and RNA

Acronym DNA: DNA stands for RNA: RNA stands for ribonucleic
. deoxyribonucleic acid. acid.

Location DNA: DNA is mostly found in RNA: RNA is mostly found in

nucleus and nucleoid. the cytoplasm.

Sugars and Bases DNA: Deoxyribose is the sugar RNA: Ribose is the sugar where
where the bases are A, T, C and the bases are A, U, C and G
G.
Length DNA: DNA is a long polymer. RNA: RNA is shorter than DNA.

Base Pairing DNA: A pairs with T and C pairs RNA: A pairs with U and C pairs
with G. with G.

Structure DNA: DNA is double-stranded RNA: RNA is usually single-

and it exhibits a double-helix strand, sometimes it forms
structure. secondary and tertiary
structures.

Preferred Conformation DNA: DNA prefers B-form. RNA: RNA prefers A-form.
 Function DNA: DNA carries the genetic RNA: RNA is mainly involved in
. information necessary for the protein synthesis, sometimes it
development, functioning, and regulates the gene expression.
reproduction.

Stability DNA: DNA is stable in alkaline RNA: RNA is not stable in

conditions. The small size of the
grooves reduces the action of
DNase enzymes.
Damage by UV DNA: DNA is more prone to
damage by UV.
alkaline conditions compared to
DNA. RNA exhibits much larger
grooves compared to DNA and it
is more prone to degrade with
RNases
RNA: RNA is less prone to
damage by UV.

4. Make a word cloud in each step of the central dogma of molecular biology

STEP OF THE
CENTRAL
DOGMA OF
MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY