Reflecting back on the course, what three major themes you would identify that connect the various topics discussed in this course-how are they connected to more than one topic, and how do they connect with what you knew before this course? What knowledge have you gained with regards to these three themes you have identifed?

The three major themes that could be identified that connect to various topics discussed in the course were the enzymes, proteins, and metabolism. These three themes can be connected to other science courses that were previously taught. These three themes are important for our body because it carries certain functions for our body, and those mechanisms are what help us function. For example: a certain disease or disorder can be tied in with these three themes. Lactic acid is one of the topics I learned in a previous class that can be tied in with biochemistry and other science courses. Lactic acid is entered through the blood stream and is metabolized in the liver. Then there is the internal cycle called the cori cycle and in this cycle the tissues transport to and metabolise in the liver and kidney. All tissues can produce lactate with out the need of oxygen. Tissues that are active in the glycolysis process produce excessive lactate from glucose. Lactate is made from pyruvate by the enzyme  lactate dehydrogenase. This was one of the examples that I could tie the themes with lactic acid and how it works. This course helped me better understand in depth how these mechanisms work and what happens if something goes wrong.

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How would you explain the connection between glucose entering the body and energy created by the body to a friend, using your new biochemistry knowledge?

If I had to explain between glucose entering the body and energy created by the body I would first explain what is glucose and how it gives us energy. First glucose is “fuel” for our body because we need glucose in order to function. When we eat a meal there is rise in our blood glucose level and insulin is produced from the organ pancreas. The pancreas is like a vacuum because it picks up all of our glucose and sends it to our cells by glucose transporters. Once glucose is inside of the cell it starts to make ATP which is a molecule that creates and stores energy required by the cell. Glucose is metabolized into energy in combination with oxygen and without oxygen. More ATP is created when oxygen is available because the products of glucose, pyurvic acid, move forward into the other pathways. The products of glucose produce 4 ATPs, but only a net gain of 2 ATPs. This is why the rest of the pathways are needed for more ATP production.

GLYCOLYSIS PATH!