Macromolecules Basics
What element makes organic molecules “organic”?
Carbon
Starches and sugars are examples of what type of macromolecule?
Carbohydrates
What elements are found in lipids?
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen (C, H, O; with more hydrogen than oxygen)
What is the monomer/building block of proteins?
Amino acids
What is the monomer/building block of nucleic acids?
Nucleotides
What are the four macromolecules?
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids
What are the monomers/building blocks of carbohydrates?
Monosaccharides (simple sugars)
Name 5 examples of lipids.
Fats, oils, waxes, steroids, phospholipids
Antibodies, insulin, hemoglobin, and collagen are examples of what type of macromolecule?
Proteins
What are the components of a nucleotide?
A sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogen base
What are the other names for macromolecules (3 terms)?
Biomolecules, organic molecules, biological molecules
Give 5 examples of carbohydrates.
Glucose, fructose, sucrose, starch, glycogen
What is the monomer/building block of lipids?
Glycerol and fatty acids
How does a protein relate to a polypeptide chain?
Proteins are made of one or more polypeptide chains of amino acids folded into a functional shape.
Give 2 examples of nucleic acids.
DNA and RNA
What is the difference between a monomer and a polymer?
A monomer is a single building block; a polymer is made of many monomers bonded together.
What is the structural carbohydrate found in cell walls?
Cellulose
How can you tell the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats?
Saturated fats have single bonds (solid at room temp); unsaturated fats have double bonds (liquid at room temp).
What type of bonds hold proteins together?
Peptide bonds
Stores and transmits genetic information in the form of a code
What are the three shapes carbon compounds can form?
Straight chains, branched chains, rings
How are cellulose and chitin similar?
Both are structural polysaccharides made of glucose derivatives, providing strength/support.
What is the function of a lipid, and how does it differ from carbohydrates?
Lipids provide long-term energy storage, insulation, waterproofing, and cell membrane structure. Carbohydrates provide short-term/quick energy.
What is the function of an enzyme, and what macromolecule is it?
Enzymes speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy; they are proteins.
Which biological molecule transports substances between cells?
Proteins