Is this map of metabolic pathways comprehensive or are there missing components?

  • Thread starter Thread starter BWV
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Map
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers around a graphic depicting metabolic pathways, particularly highlighting the Krebs cycle, also known as the TCA cycle, which is considered a fundamental aspect of core metabolism. This cycle is believed to have played a crucial role in the origins of metabolism, potentially being auto-catalytic with the assistance of natural mineral catalysts. Participants express their experiences with biochemistry, noting its complexity and relevance to biological studies. There is also a light-hearted exchange about the graphic's aesthetic appeal, with one participant considering using it as wallpaper for their office. However, it is noted that the graphic is incomplete, lacking elements such as photosynthesis and certain metabolic processes, suggesting it primarily represents human cell metabolism.
Biology news on Phys.org
The circular part in the middle is the Krebs cycle or the TCA (TriCarboxylic Acid) cycle.
This has been also called core metabolism.

It is thought to have been the beginnings of metabolism before commonly recognized life. Parts or most of it are thought to be auto-catalytic, possibly with the aid of naturally occurring mineral catalysts.
Other pathways were elaborted from this core of metabolism.
 
  • Informative
Likes berkeman and BWV
BWV said:
can get some idea of the complexity of biological systems from this graphic

https://faculty.cc.gatech.edu/~turk/bio_sim/articles/metabolic_pathways.png
I can't open it but my friend had a T shirt, I bet it is something like your link. He studied Biochemistry. Why would you do that? JUST Biochemistry?
The most interesting part of A level Biology but when I hit Uni I realized Biochemistry was a lot of stuff that did not stay in my head as well as some of the other modules!
 
As an undergrad, I took a lot of chemistry.
I considered it a lot less interesting with each successive class until I got to biochemistry and the chemistry being studied better matched up with (and helped to further understand) my biological interests.
 
  • Like
Likes pinball1970
Fra said:
Awesome image!
Aren't we all sick and tired of slmple wallpapers? May o use it to print a wallpaper for my office? 🤣

/Fredrik
There used to be a poster-print handed out by Boehringer Mannheim (here in Europe). You night want to ask their follow-up company - Roche - whether they still have it. But... ...I frankly doubt they'll supply you with enough copies for your wallpapering project.

Nice thing to have in your office when you're a bichemist or molecular biologist, though.Also, this map is incomplete - photosynthesis is missing. So it's only a map of the animal / fungal / bacterial metabolism. Also - I only screened it - e,g, ascorbate synthesis also seems to be missing... ...so it's probably ohly the human cell metabolism (e.g. dogs synthesise ascorbate on their own)..
 
Deadly cattle screwworm parasite found in US patient. What to know. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2025/08/25/new-world-screwworm-human-case/85813010007/ Exclusive: U.S. confirms nation's first travel-associated human screwworm case connected to Central American outbreak https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-confirms-nations-first-travel-associated-human-screwworm-case-connected-2025-08-25/...
Chagas disease, long considered only a threat abroad, is established in California and the Southern U.S. According to articles in the Los Angeles Times, "Chagas disease, long considered only a threat abroad, is established in California and the Southern U.S.", and "Kissing bugs bring deadly disease to California". LA Times requires a subscription. Related article -...
I am reading Nicholas Wade's book A Troublesome Inheritance. Please let's not make this thread a critique about the merits or demerits of the book. This thread is my attempt to understanding the evidence that Natural Selection in the human genome was recent and regional. On Page 103 of A Troublesome Inheritance, Wade writes the following: "The regional nature of selection was first made evident in a genomewide scan undertaken by Jonathan Pritchard, a population geneticist at the...
Back
Top