Reflection 1 (Lecture 1) Chapter 1 Date: 27.2.

2012 Time: 11am- 1pm Content: Today, I learned about Chapter 1 and 2 which were biomolecules and biochemical processes. There were 2 types of biomolecules which were organic and inorganic molecules. It was simple to differentiate between it as inorganic chemicals are simple molecules and NOT element of CARBON while for organic chemicals were complex and contain elements CARBON & HYDROGEN. There were 6 functional groups in biomolecules. There were hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amine, phosphate and sulthydryl. This linkages in biological molecules was covalent bond. Besides, we learned about major biomolecules that consist of carbohydrates, lipids, protein and nucleic acids and it were made up by monomers of glucose, fructose and galactose ( carbohydrates), fatty acid and glycerol (lipid), amino acid (protein), nucleotide (nucleic acid). Our lecturer used example of our breakfast to describe biomolecules. I just couldn't believe that my breakfast only consists of monomers glucose and fatty acid, maybe next time I should change my eating habit in order to keep a balance diet. :)

Reflection 2 ( Lecture 1) Chapter 2 Date: 27. 2. 2012 Time: 11am- 1pm Content: We learned about 5 types of biochemical reactions where condensation (anabolism), hydrolysis (catabolism), functional group transfer, electron transfer and rearrangement. When talked about biochemical reactions, there must be have energy. Energy is the capacity to do work where it was measured in kcal. Before this, I never thought that we, as the organisms are open system because we does not exchange energy with its surroundings! There were 2 law thermodynamics. Overall, 1st law of thermodynamics is about in any process, the total energy of the universe remains constant. While 2nd law of thermodynamics is about that there is no process that, operating in a cycle, produces no other effect than the subtraction of a positive amount of heat from a reservoir and the production of an equal amount of work. I felt that second law being an extension of the 1st law. For example, a car. 1st law stated that energy can't destroyed or created we have to put more gas in car when it turns the gasoline into kinetic energy and heat. Thus, there will be free energy. An energy in a physical system that can be converted to do work. In the nutshell, I arranged it into: Exergonic Yes Releasing Respiration Reaction Spontaneous Energy Example Endergonic No Requiring Photosynthesis

Furthermore, I also learned about coupled reactions. In simple way, energy is released by exergonic to endergonic reaction. Lecturer taught us the secret of lion!!! LEO Lose electron oxidation Reducing agent Oxidising agent The lion says GER Gain electron reduction Released energy Gain energy

oxidised reduced