The difference between kinetics and thermodynamics

For more than 25 years, biologist David Goodsell has been making scientifically accurate paintings and illustrations of the molecular structures of things related to HIV, cancer cells, ebola, Zika, diabetes, proteins, enzymes, and hundreds of other scientific and medical processes.View more of David’s beautiful and freely available works

For more than 25 years, biologist David Goodsell has been making scientifically accurate paintings and illustrations of the molecular structures of things related to HIV, cancer cells, ebola, Zika, diabetes, proteins, enzymes, and hundreds of other scientific and medical processes.

View more of David’s beautiful and freely available works

In today’s session we reviewed the difference between kinetics and thermodynamics, and examined the impact Gibb’s Free Energy has behind biochemical reactions in more detail.

We learned how biochemical reactions utilize ATP hydrolysis for turning endergonic reactions exergonic. We then explored the 3D structure of an enzyme (phosphofructokinase 1) to see the structural means in which ATP hydrolysis is coupled to reactions. We will discuss how ATP is produced in the next session.

In addition, next week the students will need the following ingredients:

  • Yeast

  • Sugar

  • Small balloon (fits well over the mouth of the vial that came in the Blue Light Experiment Kit)

  • Plastic wrap

The following week (05/24) the students will need:

  • Kiwi, strawberry, banana (one of each)

  • Isopropyl alcohol

  • Dish soap

  • Salt

  • Baggie

  • Disposable cup

  • Strainer and coffee filter

  • Forceps or tweezers or chop sticks or fork

 
 
 
Speaker Ryan PenhallurickJoanna CuttsReactions, Spontaneity, Adenosine, Triphosphate, biochemistry