30 questions to ask before diving into bioinformatics

I have spent my youth learning about programming, other related topics, and some random skills. So I did not learn much about biology and chemistry. Now, a significant part of my job is related to bioinformatics. I feel it is essential to create a solid foundation to be effective in my job. In this note, I outline 30 key questions I have learned and still learning for my own reference, and for other people who are in a similar situation.

Chemistry

1. What are atoms, molecules, and ions?
2. How do chemical bonds form (covalent, ionic, hydrogen bonds)?
3. What is atomic theory and electron configuration?
4. What are the types of chemical bonds?

Biology

1. What are the basic structure and function of four major types of biomolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids)?
2. What is the role of water and its properties in biological systems?
3. What are peptides and how are they different from proteins?
4. How do enzymes function as catalysts?
5. What factors affect enzyme activity?
6. What are enzyme-substrate interactions? And, what is the role of substrates in enzymatic reactions?
7. What are the factors affecting enzyme kinetics (pH, temperature, inhibitors)?
8. What are the fundamental characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
9. How do different cellular organelles function?
10. What are cellular processes such as replication, transcription, and translation?
11. What are the basic mechanisms of gene regulation?
12. How do metabolic pathways work? (anabolic and catabolic pathways)
13. What are the roles of major metabolic pathways (such as glycolysis, Krebs cycle)?
14. How is energy stored and used in biological systems?
15. What is the structure and function of DNA and RNA?
16. How do proteins interact with DNA and RNA?
17. What are motifs, and how do they contribute to protein function?
18. What are ligands, and how do they interact with enzymes and receptors?
19. What are ligand binding sites, and how do they contribute to the specificity of enzyme-substrate interactions?
20. What is phosphorylation, and what role do phosphorylation sites play in protein function?
21. What are ion channels, and how do they function in cell membranes?
22. What are protein kinases, and how do they regulate cellular processes?
23. What is the role of membranes in cells?
24. How do cells communicate and interact with their environment?
25. What are the principles of genetic inheritance and variation?
26. How do mutations affect genetic information and function?