Write an essay on the importance of bonds and bonding in organisms (25 marks)
The tertiary structure of proteins contains hydrogen, ionic and disulfide bonding. These bonds form
between amino acids chains and results in the species 3D tertiary structure of a protein. The
different folding of the polypeptide due to the bonding present, determines the role of the protein.
Without binding in proteins, they will not be able to fulfil their role. For example, if there were no
bonding present in the tertiary structures of enzymes, then the active site would not have the
complementary shape to a particular substrate. As a result of this, metabolic reactions such as
respiration will be unable to take place. Bonding in proteins are important because they fold the
polypeptide chain into a certain structure. In eukaryotic DNA, the protein histone prevents the
strands of DNA from being tangled. Without bonding in histones, the structure would be different
and unable to carry out its function. As a result, the DNA could become tangled which could cause a
problem in DNA replication and protein synthesis.
Water molecules are held together by hydrogen bonds. The delta negative oxygen attracts the delta
positive hydrogen on another water molecule Which forms a hydrogen bond. hydrogen bonding In
water is important because it gives properties that organisms use to their advantage. Water has a
high specific heat capacity. This is because it requires more energy to overcome the intermolecular
bonds between molecules. this is important because Water can act as a buffer to temperatures. For
example, in hot and dry conditions, if there were no hydrogen bonding in water then all of the water
would evaporate from the Organism. Due to hydrogen bonding in water it has high cohesion. This is
important because water is then able to support columns of water, for example in the Xylem. If
water did not have a high specific heat capacity and high cohesion tension then plants, animals and
unicellular organisms would have a lack of water. Water is important in photolysis in the light
dependent reaction in photosynthesis, and is also important in hydrolysis reactions. Due to hydrogen
bonding, ice is less dense than water. This is important because in cold seasons, a layer of ice on top
of ponds insulates the pond in order for aquatic animals and plants to survive cold conditions. If
there was no intermolecular bonds between water then ice would be more dense than water
meaning that in cold environments, aquatic animals And plants would die.
Cellulose is a polymer made up of chains of beta glucose. A glycosidic bond forms between the first
carbon on one glucose molecule and the fourth carbon on another glucose molecule. This means
that in cellulose , the beta glucose molecules form a straight line. Hydrogen bonds form between
adjacent chains of beta glucose molecules. These hydrogen bonds are important because overall,
they provide strength to the plant. If there were no hydrogen bonds between the chains of beta
glucose, then the cell wall of the plant would be weak And the cell may burst or shrink if the cell has
lost or gained water by osmosis. Chitin is a polymer found in the cell wall of fungi and in the
exoskeleton of insects. Chitin is a polymer made from beta glucose held together by glycosidic
bonds. The beta glucose molecules form straight chains and hydrogen bonds form between adjacent
chains. The hydrogen bonds are important as they provide strength to the exoskeleton and provide
righty to the cell wall of fungi. If there were no hydrogen bonds between the beta glucose chains
then chitin would not be able to provide strength to the exoskeleton of insects and the cell wall of
fungi. Chitin is important in insects as it is waterproof. This is important because it reduces water
loss across the surface of the insects body.
DNA is a double stranded molecule, hydrogen bonds form between nucleotides. Two hydrogen
bonds formed between adenine and thymine, And three hydrogen bonds formed between guanine
and cytisine. These hydrogen bonds are important because they keep the two strands of DNA
together if there were no hydrogen bonds then the two strands would not stay together which
would make DNA an unstable molecule. Phosphodiester bonds link nucleotides together which
forms the phosphate sugar backbone. This is important because it helps to protect the DNA
The tertiary structure of proteins contains hydrogen, ionic and disulfide bonding. These bonds form
between amino acids chains and results in the species 3D tertiary structure of a protein. The
different folding of the polypeptide due to the bonding present, determines the role of the protein.
Without binding in proteins, they will not be able to fulfil their role. For example, if there were no
bonding present in the tertiary structures of enzymes, then the active site would not have the
complementary shape to a particular substrate. As a result of this, metabolic reactions such as
respiration will be unable to take place. Bonding in proteins are important because they fold the
polypeptide chain into a certain structure. In eukaryotic DNA, the protein histone prevents the
strands of DNA from being tangled. Without bonding in histones, the structure would be different
and unable to carry out its function. As a result, the DNA could become tangled which could cause a
problem in DNA replication and protein synthesis.
Water molecules are held together by hydrogen bonds. The delta negative oxygen attracts the delta
positive hydrogen on another water molecule Which forms a hydrogen bond. hydrogen bonding In
water is important because it gives properties that organisms use to their advantage. Water has a
high specific heat capacity. This is because it requires more energy to overcome the intermolecular
bonds between molecules. this is important because Water can act as a buffer to temperatures. For
example, in hot and dry conditions, if there were no hydrogen bonding in water then all of the water
would evaporate from the Organism. Due to hydrogen bonding in water it has high cohesion. This is
important because water is then able to support columns of water, for example in the Xylem. If
water did not have a high specific heat capacity and high cohesion tension then plants, animals and
unicellular organisms would have a lack of water. Water is important in photolysis in the light
dependent reaction in photosynthesis, and is also important in hydrolysis reactions. Due to hydrogen
bonding, ice is less dense than water. This is important because in cold seasons, a layer of ice on top
of ponds insulates the pond in order for aquatic animals and plants to survive cold conditions. If
there was no intermolecular bonds between water then ice would be more dense than water
meaning that in cold environments, aquatic animals And plants would die.
Cellulose is a polymer made up of chains of beta glucose. A glycosidic bond forms between the first
carbon on one glucose molecule and the fourth carbon on another glucose molecule. This means
that in cellulose , the beta glucose molecules form a straight line. Hydrogen bonds form between
adjacent chains of beta glucose molecules. These hydrogen bonds are important because overall,
they provide strength to the plant. If there were no hydrogen bonds between the chains of beta
glucose, then the cell wall of the plant would be weak And the cell may burst or shrink if the cell has
lost or gained water by osmosis. Chitin is a polymer found in the cell wall of fungi and in the
exoskeleton of insects. Chitin is a polymer made from beta glucose held together by glycosidic
bonds. The beta glucose molecules form straight chains and hydrogen bonds form between adjacent
chains. The hydrogen bonds are important as they provide strength to the exoskeleton and provide
righty to the cell wall of fungi. If there were no hydrogen bonds between the beta glucose chains
then chitin would not be able to provide strength to the exoskeleton of insects and the cell wall of
fungi. Chitin is important in insects as it is waterproof. This is important because it reduces water
loss across the surface of the insects body.
DNA is a double stranded molecule, hydrogen bonds form between nucleotides. Two hydrogen
bonds formed between adenine and thymine, And three hydrogen bonds formed between guanine
and cytisine. These hydrogen bonds are important because they keep the two strands of DNA
together if there were no hydrogen bonds then the two strands would not stay together which
would make DNA an unstable molecule. Phosphodiester bonds link nucleotides together which
forms the phosphate sugar backbone. This is important because it helps to protect the DNA
