Amino Acids

So I haven't posted here in almost a year. That is what exams do haha.
Just to catch up, I'm now at Portsmouth university studying Biochemistry and loving it. Maybe loving the lifestyle more than the course right now but still...

Last year I posted a quick pic that showed that there is an amino acid called amber! At the time I didn't understand it and didn't push it but today I've discovered it! It's really not all that groundbreaking, it's just randomly in a power point slide from one of the lectures I accidently didn't get to...

There are two very rare tRNA encoded amino acids. One of these is called amber, the other is called opal.

This is Selenocysteine, otherwise known as opal and is coded for by UGA.

This is Pyrrolysine, otherwise known as amber and is coded for by UAG.

Both UAG and UGA are usually stop codons.

This is all I know about it as at the moment it's not massively important for me to know any more in depth. And right now I'm studying for a cell biology exam so best not get sidetracked by other topics and interesting things! Hopefully soon I'll post something I learnt about in a really interesting perspectives in biochemistry lecture.

I love protein synthesis!

The expanded genetic code means I am an amino acid.... how cool is that!?

Why sex is worth doing....

Sexual Nature: A Brief History

Click on the above link and listen. I haven't got any more to say on this subject.... apart from yay for sex!

ATP

ATP is needed for most biological processes.... which makes it pretty damn awesome in my eyes so you gotta know how it;s made and it's properties so you can understand other things, like respiration (which is bloody important).

Here's something I drew earlier (blue peter style).

So ADP combines with an inorganic phosphate molecule using energy for the production of glucose in respiration (that will be my next post - respiration is a humdinger) using an enzyme called ATP synthase.

ATP is made.

Energy is stored as chemical energy in the phosphate bond.

The ATP molecule diffuses to the part of the cell that needs energy where it is then broken down by an enzyme called ATPase.

The ADP and inorganic phosphate molecule are recycled and it all starts again.

Specific properties of ATP:

1. ATP releases a small amount of energy at a time so no energy is wasted.
2. It's a small, soluble molecule so is easily transported around the cell.
3. It's easily broken down.
4. ATP can't pass out of the cell so the cell always has an immediate supply of energy.

It's all pretty easy and basic. Next up is respiration which I think you'll find is a little more complicated than that....

Welcome!

So the blog title is pretty self explanatory - I freaking love science. I'm also gonna admit now, I'm not amazing at it... but I really want to be. I thought that a blog would be a good way to organize some revision and thoughts and to share with other like-minded people. I'm working on a post on the Nitrogen Cycle at the moment 'cos that's what I'm currently revising (and also struggling with).

Just to let you know, biochemistry is the science I am interested in, in particular genetics, enzymes and proteins.