MCB2021 Learning Objectives -
Exam Prep
Carbohydrates and Lipids
1) Understand the structure, chemistry and naming of monosaccharides
and monosaccharide derivatives.
2) Understand how to identify chiral carbons & determine number of
stereoisomers in monosaccharides.
3) Understand the Fischer and Haworth projection of monosaccharides - Be
able to draw a Haworth (cyclic) monosaccharide from a Fischer projection.
4) Understand the concept of reducing sugars, the purpose of the Benedict's
test and be able to identify reducing sugars by their anormeric carbon.
5) Understand the structure, chemistry and formation of disaccharides
(sucrose, lactose, maltose).
6) Understand the structure, chemistry and formation of polysaccharides
(starch, cellulose, peptidoglycan).
7) Understand the structure and chemistry of glycosaminoglycans.
8) Understand the function of glycoproteins and formation via N- and O-
linked Glycosylation.
9) Understand the structure and function of proteoglycans in relation
to aggrecan.
10) Understand the structure, chemistry and naming of saturated and
unsaturated fatty acids.
11) Understand how (#10) affects the melting temperature of fatty acids and
fluidity.
Membrane proteins, lipids & membrane transport
1) Understand the concept of essential fatty acids.
2) Understand fatty acid elongation (synthesis of arachidonic acid).
3) Understand the structure, chemistry and function of triacylglycerides.
MCB2021 Learning Objectives - Exam Prep 1
, 4) Understand why triacylglycerols are such a good energy source.
5) Understand the process of saponification and formation of a micelle.
6) Understand the structure & function of the membrane bilayer and its
representation as a fluid mosaic model.
7) Understand the structure, chemistry and function of membrane lipids
(phospholipids, glycolipids, cholesterol).
8) Understand the concept of asymmetry and heterogeneity of the membrane
bilayer.
9) Understand the processes that allow movement of membrane lipids across
the bilayer.
10) Understand the concept of lipid rafts.
11) Understand the structure and function of membrane proteins (integral,
peripheral and lipid-linked proteins).
12) Understand the concept of hydropathy plots.
13) Relate glycophorin, glucose transporter and porins as examples of
integral membrane proteins.
14) Understand the formation of lipid-linked proteins (myristoylation,
palmitoylation, prenylation).
15) Understand passive and facilitated-diffusion as mechanisms of energy-
independent membrane transport.
16) Understand active (Na+/K+ ATPase pump) and co-active
transport as mechanisms of energy-independent membrane transport.
17) Understand the concept of electrochemical gradients and how to
quantify ΔG.
Nucleic Acids
1) Understand nucleotide structures
2) How nucleotides are joined together to form nucleic acids
3) How information is stored in and transferred via nucleic acids
4) Understand the biological functions of nucleotides and nucleic acids
MCB2021 Learning Objectives - Exam Prep 2
Exam Prep
Carbohydrates and Lipids
1) Understand the structure, chemistry and naming of monosaccharides
and monosaccharide derivatives.
2) Understand how to identify chiral carbons & determine number of
stereoisomers in monosaccharides.
3) Understand the Fischer and Haworth projection of monosaccharides - Be
able to draw a Haworth (cyclic) monosaccharide from a Fischer projection.
4) Understand the concept of reducing sugars, the purpose of the Benedict's
test and be able to identify reducing sugars by their anormeric carbon.
5) Understand the structure, chemistry and formation of disaccharides
(sucrose, lactose, maltose).
6) Understand the structure, chemistry and formation of polysaccharides
(starch, cellulose, peptidoglycan).
7) Understand the structure and chemistry of glycosaminoglycans.
8) Understand the function of glycoproteins and formation via N- and O-
linked Glycosylation.
9) Understand the structure and function of proteoglycans in relation
to aggrecan.
10) Understand the structure, chemistry and naming of saturated and
unsaturated fatty acids.
11) Understand how (#10) affects the melting temperature of fatty acids and
fluidity.
Membrane proteins, lipids & membrane transport
1) Understand the concept of essential fatty acids.
2) Understand fatty acid elongation (synthesis of arachidonic acid).
3) Understand the structure, chemistry and function of triacylglycerides.
MCB2021 Learning Objectives - Exam Prep 1
, 4) Understand why triacylglycerols are such a good energy source.
5) Understand the process of saponification and formation of a micelle.
6) Understand the structure & function of the membrane bilayer and its
representation as a fluid mosaic model.
7) Understand the structure, chemistry and function of membrane lipids
(phospholipids, glycolipids, cholesterol).
8) Understand the concept of asymmetry and heterogeneity of the membrane
bilayer.
9) Understand the processes that allow movement of membrane lipids across
the bilayer.
10) Understand the concept of lipid rafts.
11) Understand the structure and function of membrane proteins (integral,
peripheral and lipid-linked proteins).
12) Understand the concept of hydropathy plots.
13) Relate glycophorin, glucose transporter and porins as examples of
integral membrane proteins.
14) Understand the formation of lipid-linked proteins (myristoylation,
palmitoylation, prenylation).
15) Understand passive and facilitated-diffusion as mechanisms of energy-
independent membrane transport.
16) Understand active (Na+/K+ ATPase pump) and co-active
transport as mechanisms of energy-independent membrane transport.
17) Understand the concept of electrochemical gradients and how to
quantify ΔG.
Nucleic Acids
1) Understand nucleotide structures
2) How nucleotides are joined together to form nucleic acids
3) How information is stored in and transferred via nucleic acids
4) Understand the biological functions of nucleotides and nucleic acids
MCB2021 Learning Objectives - Exam Prep 2
