1.2. The chemical basis of life: inorganic and organic components

The chemical basis of life: inorganic and organic components

If we analyze each of the different types of living beings, we will find that living matter is made up of about seventy elements. These elements found in living matter are called bioelements or biogenic elements (of bios, life, and genos, origin).

These bioelements will combine to give rise to biomolecules or immediate principles.

The bioelementos can be classified by their contribution to the total mass of the body into three groups: the primary bioelements, the secondary bioelements and trace elements.

The primary bioelements. They are essential for the formation of organic biomolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids), which are the molecules that make up all living beings. Biomolecules are also called immediate principles because they constitute, without intermediaries, living matter, and that is why they can be extracted from it by physical procedures (dissolution, evaporation, decantation, etc.). They are a group of six elements, which constitute 96% of all living matter. They are oxygen (O), carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), and to a lesser extent, phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S).

The secondary bioelements are about 4% of living matter. They are found in small amounts, even less than 0.1%. In this group two types can be distinguished:
- the indispensable ones, which cannot be absent because they are essential for the life of the cell, and which, to a greater or lesser extent, are found in all living beings. Essential secondary bioelements are calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), chlorine (Cl), iron (Fe), silicon (Si), copper (Cu ), manganese (Mn), boron (B), fluorine (F) and iodine (I).
- and variables, which may be lacking in some organisms. Variable secondary bioelements are, for example, bromine (Br), zinc (Zn), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V) and lead (Pb).

The trace elements are in proportions lower than 0.1% , but are essential to living things. There is no direct relationship between abundance and essentiality. Many bioelements can be, for example, trace elements, and at the same time be indispensable, since they can have a catalytic function. A large number of them is not necessary, a small number of them being sufficient for the organism to live, but the total lack would cause its death. Some trace elements, such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, I, Ni and Co, appear in most organisms and others, such as Si, F, Cr, Li, B , Mo and Al, are only present in specific groups.

Bioelementos By Alejandro Porto [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Interactive activity: Interactive periodic table.

Fundamental ideas about the components of living matter

The bioelements or chemical elements that are part of living matter are classified into three groups:

Primary bioelements: the are the major components of living matter (96%). They are oxygen (O), carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), and to a lesser extent, phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S).
Secondary bioelements: they are found in living matter in a lower proportion than the primary ones (4%). They are in small amounts, even less than 0.1%. There are two types of secondary bioelements:
- the indispensable ones, which are found in all living beings. They are calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), chlorine (Cl), iron (Fe), silicon (Si), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), boron (B), fluorine (F) and iodine (I).
- and variables, which may be lacking in some organisms. Variable secondary bioelements are, for example, bromine (Br), zinc (Zn), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V) and lead (Pb).
Trace elements: although they are in proportions lower than 0.1%, they are essential for living beings. Many of them are essential for enzymatic catalysis and for some proteins to act. Some trace elements, such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, I, Ni and Co, appear in most organisms and others, such as Si, F, Cr, Li, B, Mo and Al, are only present in specific groups.

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Skip navigation Biology 2nd Baccalaureate Biology 2nd Bac. 1. Bioelements and biomolecules. Water and mineral salts 1.1. Chemical bonds in biology 1.1.1. Intramolecular bonds 1.1.1.1. Covalent bond 1.1.1.2. Ionic bond 1.1.2. Intermolecular bonds 1.1.2.1. Van der Waals forces 1.1.2.2. Hydrogen bonds 1.2. The chemical basis of life: inorganic and organic components 1.2.1. Primary bioelements 1.2.2. Secondary bioelements 1.2.3. Trace elements 1.3. The immediate principles or biomolecules 1.3.1. Water 1.3.1.1. Chemical structure of water 1.3.1.2. Properties and functions of water 1.3.2. Mineral salts 1.3.2.1. Functions of salts in solution 1.3.2.2. Colloidal solutions and dispersions 1.3.2.3. Properties of colloidal dispersions 1.3.2.4. Diffusion, osmosis and dialysis 1.3.2.4.1. Diffusion 1.3.2.4.2. Osmosis 1.3.2.4.3. Dialysis 1.4. Bibliography 2. Glucides 2.1. Glucid concept 2.2. Classification of carbohydrates 2.3. Monosaccharides 2.3.1. Trioses 2.3.1.1. Spatial isomerism or stereoisomerism 2.3.2. Tetroses 2.3.3. Pentoses 2.3.3.1. Monosaccharide cyclization 2.3.4. Hexoses 2.4. The N-glucosidic and O-glucosidic bonds 2.4.1. Substances derived from monosaccharides 2.5. Disaccharides 2.6. Polysaccharides 2.6.1. Homopolysaccharides 2.6.1.1. Reserve homopolysaccharides 2.6.1.2. Structural homopolysaccharides 2.6.2. Heteropolysaccharides 2.6.3. Heterosides 2.7. General functions of glucides 2.8. Bibliography 3. Lipids 3.1. Lipid concept 3.2. Classification of lipids 3.2.1. Fatty acids 3.2.1.1. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids 3.2.1.2. Chemical properties of fatty acids 3.2.1.3. Physical properties of fatty acids 3.2.1.4. Fatty Acid Functions 3.2.2. Saponifiable lipids or with fatty acids 3.2.2.1. Simple lipids 3.2.2.1.1. Acylglycerides 3.2.2.1.2. Cerides 3.2.2.2. Complex lipids 3.2.2.2.1. Phospholipids 3.2.2.2.2. Glycolipids 3.2.3. Unsaponifiable lipids or without fatty acids 3.3. Lipid functions 3.4. Bibliography 4. Proteins 4.1. Introduction to proteins 4.2. Amino acids 4.2.1. Classification of amino acids 4.2.2. Properties of amino acids 4.3. The peptide bond 4.4. Protein 4.4.1. Protein structure 4.4.1.1. Primary structure of proteins 4.4.1.2. Secondary structure of proteins 4.4.1.3. Tertiary structure of proteins 4.4.1.4. Quaternary structure of proteins 4.4.2. Protein properties 4.4.3. Classification of proteins 4.4.3.1. Holoproteins 4.4.3.2. Heteroproteins 4.4.4. Protein functions 4.5. Enzymes 4.5.1. Structure of enzymes 4.5.2. The active center of enzymes 4.5.3. General Mechanism of Enzyme Catalysis 4.5.4. Regulation of enzyme activity 4.5.5. Allosteric enzymes 4.5.6. Nomenclature and classification of enzymes 4.6. The vitamins 4.6.1. Fat-soluble vitamins 4.6.2. Water soluble vitamins 4.7. Bibliography 5. Nucleotides and nucleic acids 5.1. The chemical composition of nucleic acids 5.1.1. Components of nucleic acids 5.1.2. Concept, types and functions of nucleic acids 5.1.3. Nucleosides 5.1.4. Nucleotides 5.1.4.1. Nucleotide functions 5.1.5. Nucleic acids 5.2. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) 5.2.1. DNA structure 5.2.1.1. Primary structure of DNA 5.2.1.2. Secondary structure of DNA 5.2.1.3. Tertiary structure of DNA 5.2.1.3.1. Tertiary structure of DNA in prokaryotes 5.2.1.3.2. Tertiary structure of DNA in eukaryotes 5.2.1.4. Quaternary structure of DNA 5.2.2. DNA types 5.2.3. Genetic material: chromatin and chromosomes 5.2.3.1. Karyotype and karyogram 5.3. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) 5.3.1. RNA types 5.3.1.1. Transfer RNA 5.3.1.2. Messenger RNA 5.3.1.3. Ribosomal RNA 5.3.1.4. Nucleolar RNA 5.3.1.5. Small nuclear RNA 5.3.2. Functions of ribonucleic acids 5.4. Bibliography 6. Cell morphology 6.1. Cell concept 6.1.1. Cell history 6.1.2. Cell theory 6.2. Levels of cellular organization 6.2.1. General characteristics of cells 6.2.2. Prokaryotic cells 6.2.2.1. Prokaryotic cell morphology 6.2.2.2. Structure of prokaryotes 6.2.2.2.1. Bacterial capsule 6.2.2.2.2. Bacterial wall 6.2.2.2.3. Plasma membrane 6.2.2.2.4. Cytoplasm-Ribosomes-Inclusions 6.2.2.2.5. Bacterial DNA 6.2.2.2.6. Bacterial appendages 6.2.2.3. Bacteria Physiology 6.2.3. Eukaryotic cells 6.2.3.1. Animal and plant cell 6.2.3.1.1. Animal eukaryotic cell 6.2.3.1.2. Plant eukaryotic cell 6.2.3.2. Cell Evolution: Endosymbiont Theory 6.3. Size, shape and quantity 6.4. The plasma membrane 6.4.1. Chemical composition of the membrane 6.4.2. The structure of the membrane. The fluid mosaic model 6.4.3. Functions of the plasma membrane 6.4.4. Transport across the membrane 6.4.4.1. Small molecule transport 6.4.4.2. Macromolecule transport 6.4.5. Plasma membrane differentiations 6.5. The cell wall of plant cells 6.5.1. Chemical composition of the cell wall 6.5.2. Cell wall structure 6.5.3. Cell wall differentiations 6.5.4. Cell wall functions 6.6. Extracellular matrix or glucocalyx 6.7. Cytosol or hyaloplasm 6.8. The cytoskeleton 6.8.1. Microfilaments or actin filaments 6.8.2. Intermediate filaments 6.8.3. Microtubules 6.9. Cell membrane and organelle systems 6.9.1. Membrane systems 6.9.1.1. The endoplasmic reticulum 6.9.1.2. Golgi apparatus 6.9.2. Cell organelles 6.9.2.1. Lysosomes 6.9.2.2. Peroxisomes 6.9.2.3. Vacuoles 6.9.2.4. Mitochondria 6.9.2.4.1. Functions of the mitochondria 6.9.2.5. Plastids 6.9.2.5.1. Chloroplasts 6.9.2.6. Ribosomes 6.9.2.7. Centrosome 6.9.2.8. Cilia and flagella 6.10. Cell motility 6.11. The cell nucleus 6.11.1. Characteristics of the cell nucleus 6.11.2. The interphase nucleus 6.11.3. The mitotic nucleus or nucleus in division 6.12. Bibliography 7. Metabolism 7.1. Metabolism 7.1.1. Energetic Aspects of Cellular Chemical Reactions 7.2. Catabolism 7.2.1. Catabolism and obtaining energy 7.2.2. Carbohydrate catabolism 7.2.2.1. Glycolysis 7.2.2.2. Cellular respiration 7.2.2.2.1. Oxidative decarboxylation 7.2.2.2.2. Krebs cycle 7.2.2.2.3. Electron transport chain 7.2.2.2.4. Energy balance of cellular respiration 7.2.2.3. Fermentations 7.2.2.3.1. Alcoholic or ethyl fermentation 7.2.2.3.2. Lactic fermentation 7.2.2.3.3. Other types of fermentations 7.3. Anabolism 7.3.1. Autotrophic anabolism 7.3.2. Photosynthesis 7.3.2.1. Photochemical or light phase 7.3.2.1.1. Photosystems 7.3.2.1.2. Photophosphorylation 7.3.2.1.2.1. Non cyclic photophosphorylation 7.3.2.1.2.2. Cyclic photophosphorylation 7.3.2.2. Biosynthetic or dark phase 7.3.2.3. Factors influencing photosynthesis 7.3.2.4. Products of photosynthesis 7.3.3. Chemosynthesis 7.4. Bibliography 8. Cell reproduction 8.1. The cell cycle 8.1.1. Interphase 8.1.2. Cellular division 8.2. Cellular division 8.2.1. Mitosis 8.2.1.1. Prophase 8.2.1.2. Metaphase 8.2.1.3. Anaphase 8.2.1.4. Telophase 8.2.1.5. Cytokinesis 8.2.1.6. More on mitosis 8.2.2. Meiosis 8.2.2.1. Meiosis I 8.2.2.2. Meiosis II 8.2.3. Meiosis and sexual reproduction 8.2.4. Meiosis and life cycle 8.2.5. Biological importance of meiosis 8.3. Differences and similarities between mitosis and meiosis 8.4. Bibliography 9. Classical genetics 9.1. Genetics basics 9.2. Mendelian genetics 9.2.1. The method 9.2.2. Mendel's Laws 9.2.2.1. Mendel's first law or principle of uniformity in the first generation 9.2.2.2. Mendel's second law or principle of segregation 9.2.2.2.1. Backcross and test crossover 9.2.2.3. Mendel's third law or principle of independent combination 9.3. Gene interaction 9.3.1. Gene interaction between allelic genes 9.3.2. Gene interaction between non-allelic genes that influence for the same trait 9.4. Chromosomal theory of heredity 9.5. Ligation and recombination 9.6. Complex mendelism 9.6.1. Multiple allelism 9.6.1.1. Lethal genes 9.6.2. Pleiotropy 9.6.3. Expressiveness and genetic penetrance 9.7. Sex-linked inheritance 9.7.1. Y-linked inheritance 9.7.2. X-linked inheritance 9.8. Heredity influenced by sex 9.9. Bibliography 10. Molecular genetics 10.1. DNA as hereditary material 10.2. DNA replication 10.2.1. The need for DNA replication 10.2.2. First hypotheses about DNA duplication 10.2.3. Meselson and Stahl experiment 10.2.4. The sense of growth of the new strands 10.2.5. Mechanism of DNA replication 10.2.5.1. Replication in prokaryotes 10.2.5.2. Replication in eukaryotes 10.2.6. Error correction 10.2.7. Enzymes involved in replication 10.3. Gene concept 10.4. "One gene-one enzyme" theory 10.5. Transcription 10.5.1. Mechanism of transcription 10.5.1.1. Transcription in prokaryotes 10.5.1.2. Eukaryotic transcription 10.6. Translation or protein biosynthesis 10.6.1. The genetic code 10.6.2. Mechanism of translation of RNA to proteins 10.6.2.1. Translation in eukaryotes 10.7. Regulation of gene expression 10.8. Bibliography 11. Genetics and evolution 11.1. Mutations 11.2. Types of mutations 11.2.1. Gene or point mutation 11.2.2. Chromosomal or structural mutation 11.2.3. Mutation at the genomic level 11.3. Causes of mutations 11.4. Evolutionary implications of mutations 11.5. Metabolic implications of mutations 11.6. Bibliography 12. Microbiology and biotechnology 12.1. Microbiology 12.2. Viruses 12.2.1. Viral morphology 12.2.2. Viral physiology 12.2.2.1. Lytic cycle 12.2.2.2. Lysogenic cycle 12.2.2.3. Cycles of viruses of special interest 12.2.2.3.1. Flu virus life cycle 12.2.2.3.2. Life cycle of the AIDS virus 12.3. Other acellular forms 12.3.1. Viroids 12.3.2. Prions 12.4. Biotechnology 12.5. Bibliography 13. Immunology 13.1. Infection concept 13.2. Defense mechanisms against infections 13.2.1. Nonspecific mechanisms 13.2.1.1. Primary barriers: external defenses 13.2.1.2. Secondary barriers: internal defenses 13.2.2. Specific mechanisms 13.3. Immunity and immune system 13.3.1. Components of the immune system 13.3.2. Concept and nature of antigens 13.4. The immune response 13.4.1. Humoral immune response: the antibodies 13.4.1.1. Antibody-producing cells: B lymphocytes 13.4.1.2. Antibodies 13.4.1.2.1. Types of antibodies 13.4.1.2.2. Antigen-antibody reaction 13.4.1.3. Immune memory: primary and secondary responses 13.4.2. Cellular immune response: T lymphocytes 13.5. Types of immunity 13.5.1. Natural immunity 13.5.2. Artificial immunity 13.6. Immune system disorders 13.6.1. Autoimmunity 13.6.2. Hypersensitivity 13.6.3. Immunodeficiency 13.6.4. Transplants and the phenomenon of rejections 13.7. Bibliography « Previous \| Next » 1.2. The chemical basis of life: inorganic and organic components The chemical basis of life: inorganic and organic components If we analyze each of the different types of living beings, we will find that living matter is made up of about seventy elements. These elements found in living matter are called bioelements or biogenic elements (of bios, life, and genos, origin). These bioelements will combine to give rise to biomolecules or immediate principles. The bioelementos can be classified by their contribution to the total mass of the body into three groups: the primary bioelements, the secondary bioelements and trace elements. The primary bioelements. They are essential for the formation of organic biomolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids), which are the molecules that make up all living beings. Biomolecules are also called immediate principles because they constitute, without intermediaries, living matter, and that is why they can be extracted from it by physical procedures (dissolution, evaporation, decantation, etc.). They are a group of six elements, which constitute 96% of all living matter. They are oxygen (O), carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), and to a lesser extent, phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S). The secondary bioelements are about 4% of living matter. They are found in small amounts, even less than 0.1%. In this group two types can be distinguished: the indispensable ones, which cannot be absent because they are essential for the life of the cell, and which, to a greater or lesser extent, are found in all living beings. Essential secondary bioelements are calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), chlorine (Cl), iron (Fe), silicon (Si), copper (Cu ), manganese (Mn), boron (B), fluorine (F) and iodine (I). and variables, which may be lacking in some organisms. Variable secondary bioelements are, for example, bromine (Br), zinc (Zn), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V) and lead (Pb). The trace elements are in proportions lower than 0.1% , but are essential to living things. There is no direct relationship between abundance and essentiality. Many bioelements can be, for example, trace elements, and at the same time be indispensable, since they can have a catalytic function. A large number of them is not necessary, a small number of them being sufficient for the organism to live, but the total lack would cause its death. Some trace elements, such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, I, Ni and Co, appear in most organisms and others, such as Si, F, Cr, Li, B , Mo and Al, are only present in specific groups. By Alejandro Porto [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons Interactive activity: Interactive periodic table. Fundamental ideas about the components of living matter The bioelements or chemical elements that are part of living matter are classified into three groups: Primary bioelements: the are the major components of living matter (96%). They are oxygen (O), carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), and to a lesser extent, phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S). Secondary bioelements: they are found in living matter in a lower proportion than the primary ones (4%). They are in small amounts, even less than 0.1%. There are two types of secondary bioelements: the indispensable ones, which are found in all living beings. They are calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), chlorine (Cl), iron (Fe), silicon (Si), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), boron (B), fluorine (F) and iodine (I). and variables, which may be lacking in some organisms. Variable secondary bioelements are, for example, bromine (Br), zinc (Zn), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V) and lead (Pb). Trace elements: although they are in proportions lower than 0.1%, they are essential for living beings. Many of them are essential for enzymatic catalysis and for some proteins to act. Some trace elements, such as Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, I, Ni and Co, appear in most organisms and others, such as Si, F, Cr, Li, B, Mo and Al, are only present in specific groups. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike License 4.0 « Previous \| Next » These pages are semi-automatically translated from the web Biology 2nd Baccalaureate. Biología de 2º de Bachillerato (biologia-geologia.com). You can make any suggestion, question, comment, ..., in our forum 2º Bachillerato Biología - Foro de biologia-geologia.com
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The chemical basis of life: inorganic and organic components