STPM Biology Biological Molecules Part 1 Syllabus

STPM Biology First Term: Biological Molecules

Things you need to know (according to MPM Malaysia):

1. Water

• describe the chemical properties (solvent, bond angles, and hydrogen bond) of water.
• describe the physical properties (polarity, cohesiveness, density, surface tension, specific heat capacity, and latent heat of vaporization) of water.
• the important properties of water as a medium for life.

2. Carbohydrates

• group carbohydrates into monosaccharide, disaccharide and polysaccharide.
• categorize monosaccharide according to the number of carbon atoms and the functional groups.
• illustrate the molecular structure of a monosaccharide and differentiate between the reducing and non-reducing ends.
• explain the formation of glycosidic bond in disaccharides and polysaccharides.
• relate the structure of disaccharides and polysaccharides to their roles in living organisms.

3. Lipids

• describe the structures, properties, distribution and functions of triglycerides, phospholipids (lecithin) and steroid (cholesterol).
• differentiate between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.

4. Proteins

• classify amino acids into four main classes based on their side chains.
• describe the structure of an amino acid and the formation of peptide bonds in polypeptides.
• explain the properties of protein.
• organization of protein structures and their functions.
• the denaturation and renaturation of protein.
• classify proteins according to their structures, compositions and functions.

5. Nucleic acids

• describe the structures of nucleotides and the formation of phosphodiester bonds in a polynucleotide.
• differentiate between DNA and RNA and the three types of RNAs.
• explain the structure of DNA based on Watson and Crick model.

6. Analytical techniques

• describe the basic principles of paper chromatography in pigment separation, electrophoresis for protein and nucleic acid separation.