The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Department of Chemistry
UGEB2380 Chemistry of Life (2018-2019)

Assignment 4 (Solution)
Points to note:
1. Submission Box: Science Center South Block Rm 157. There is a submission
box outside Rm 157. Late submission is not permitted.
2. Academic Honesty: No VeriGuide submission is required. Attach the signed
declaration at the back of assignment. Assignment will not be graded without
signed declaration.
3. This assignment accounts for 5% of the whole course.
Full Marks: 25

1. Define the following terms

(a.) Deoxyribonucleic acid
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a polymer chain composed of deoxyribonucleotides joined by
phosphodiester bonds.

(b.) Point mutation

Point mutation is a type of mutation that causes the replacement of a single base nucleotide
with another base nucleotide.

(c.) Drug modification

Drug modification base on a structure prototype which has certain therapeutic property.
The structure is modified so as to alter the properties of the drug such as potency, absorption
or solubility.

(d.) Sulfanilamide
Sulfanilamide is an antibacterial drug. It fakes bacteria by utilizing it to make pseudo-folic
acid which, otherwise, is used to make bacterial cell wall.

9 marks

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 2. How does the discovery of DNA improve our life? Discuss in detail with examples.

Identification of genes that trigger major diseases.

Prenatal Screening
Crime investigation
Agriculture
(Elaborate on any two of the above) 6 marks
** Accept other possible answers**

3. What are the major cause of death in 1900 and 2009? What causes the difference?

The major causes of death in 1900 are those caused by bacterial and viral infection such as influenza
and tuberculosis, while that in 2009 is caused by cancers and heart diseases which are categorized by
unhealthy life style.

4 marks

4. Why is registration of a new drug so expensive? Discuss with respect to the steps from drug
discovery to eventually sell in the market.

In drug development, thousands of compounds may be screened and tested before one of them finally
gets approval by the FDA. The process is extremely time consuming involving 6 years of drug
discovery and preclinical trials, 7 years of clinical trials and 2 years for registration. It takes billions
of dollars for research and development. The greatest cost is spent on clinical trials, which test drug
candidates in human subjects.

6 marks

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