> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://taylor-lindsay.gitbook.io/tl-comps/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://taylor-lindsay.gitbook.io/tl-comps/1.-basics/1.1-basic-biology-review.md).

# 1.1 Basic Biology Review

## Amino Acids & Proteins

#### AA structure&#x20;

* Central carbon surrounded by an amino group (H2N), a Carboxylic acid group (O=C-OH), an H, and a unique side chain&#x20;
* r -group
* Methyl groups&#x20;

#### AA Types&#x20;

* Humans use about 20 AAs&#x20;
* Essential, conditionally essential, Nonessential

#### Steps of Protein synthesis&#x20;

* Transcription - genes are copied into mRNA
  * mRNA built by RNA polymerase &#x20;
  * mRNA leaves nucleus and goes to ribosome&#x20;
* Translation - mRNA turned into a protein&#x20;
  * each codon of three bases codes for a specific AA
  * tRNA caries an amino acid and matches the anti-codon of three bases with the mRNA&#x20;
  * Peptide bonds - bind AAs together to form proteins&#x20;
  * ribosome moves along the mRNA until a complete chain of AAs is formed
  * chain of AAs folds up to form protein

## Cellular Respiration (Aerobic)

<figure><img src="https://d16qt3wv6xm098.cloudfront.net/-8wn3IA_QZyF4EvXAetmSC9sRPuE3fJs/_.png" alt="" width="188"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Glycolysis

* glucose is converted into pyruvate&#x20;
* Net yield +2 ATP&#x20;
* pyruvate converted to acetyl CoA&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://cdn.kastatic.org/ka-perseus-images/3ac5f05c70a76473139a0abb96318146af528f48.png" alt="" width="188"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Krebs Cycle / Citric acid&#x20;

* CO2 & +2ATP&#x20;
* Acetyl CoA broken down further into citric acid
* Citric acid is oxidized and energy is used to bind ADP and phosphate to make ATP and electron carriers (NADH & FADH2)

<figure><img src="https://cdn.kastatic.org/ka-perseus-images/c7052763740cb431d8e989fa55460816cc5a074c.png" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Electron Transport Chain&#x20;

* electrons used to create proton gradient to pump protons across membrane&#x20;
* Chemiosmosis - ATP synthase enzyme creates ATP&#x20;
* +34 ATP&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LsRQ5_EmxJA/maxresdefault.jpg" alt="" width="375"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Other&#x20;

* Proteolysis - the process by which proteins are broken down by HCL, pepsin & other digestive enzymes&#x20;


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://taylor-lindsay.gitbook.io/tl-comps/1.-basics/1.1-basic-biology-review.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
