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02 Biology Notebook: Chemistry of Life
Page 1: Introduction to Chemistry of Life
Four main types of organic macromolecules:
proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids
What do all these macromolecules have in common?
These molecules all contain carbon atoms
Key Terms: Jot down terms and definitions that are new to you. You will see them used in the lesson.
Page 2: Biological Macromolecules
What is a monomer? One part of a polymer
What is a polymer? Polymers are large molecules composed of many identical or similar subunits
Identify the four macromolecules and describe the functions of each?
1)Carbohydrates Provides the cells with energy
2)Lipids Stores energy
3)Proteins Building blocks, transporting other substances, storage, etc
4)Nucleic Acids Carries genetic information
Page 3: Carbohydrates
Define monosaccharide, disaccharide, and polysaccharide.
A monosaccharide is the smallest type of carbohydrate molecule, Disaccharides are carbohydrate molecules
made up of two monosaccharide molecules, Polysaccharides are carbohydrate polymers made up of hundreds
to thousands of monosaccharide units
Describe the structure and function of monosaccharides. Provide two examples.
important energy sources for cells glucose and fructose.
Describe structure and function of disaccharide. Provide two examples.
disaccharides are classified as simple carbohydrates, Sucrose Lactose
Describe structure and function polysaccharide. Provide two examples.
Describe the functions of starch, cellulose, glycogen, and chitin.
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Page 4: Lipids
Define hydrophobic.
lacking affinity for water; tending to not mix well with water
What are the three main categories of lipids?
Fats, Phospholipids, and Steroids
Describe the structure and function of fats?
Fat molecules are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, which serve as stored energy for the
organism
How is the structure of phospholipids different from a fat?
Instead of three fatty acids found in a fat molecule, phospholipids have two fatty acids and one phosphate
group bonded to the glycerol molecule
Define hydrophilic.
The opposite of hydrophobic
How does that change the relationship that phospholipids have to water?
This means that phospholipids are able to mix with water
What is the function of steroid? Give an example of a steroid.
Many steroids are hormones that control a number of the body's metabolic processes, cholestrol
Page 5: Proteins
How is the structure of proteins related to the function?
Proteins can only function properly under specific conditions, such as a small range of temperature and pH.
What gives proteins its unique properties?
The sequence of amino acids that make up the protein's primary structure
Choose three protein examples and describe its functions.
Insulin-hormone for sugar metabolism
Cytochrome c-enzyme for cell respiration
Growth Hormone- used in antiaging treatment
Describe the structure of an amino acid. What part of the amino acid makes each one unique?
The amino group is made up of two hydrogen atoms, each bonded with a single covalent bond to a nitrogen
atom
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Page 6: Enzymes
Define enzymes.
Enzymes are special proteins that increase the rate of a reaction by decreasing the amount of energy needed
to get a reaction started
What is the function of catalysts?
Biological catalysts, molecules that increase the speed of a reaction without being used up in the reaction
Describe what happens to a chemical reaction with or without an enzyme. (Observe what happens using the
graph.)
The reaction would need to use more energy
Why are temperature and pH important to enzymes?
so they can only speed up reactions when the conditions are right
What are two examples of things that can inhibit the way that an enzyme works?
pH and temperature
What can cause an enzyme to not properly function?
When it is denatured
What are two things that interfere with an enzyme’s ability to speed up a reaction?
Page 7: Nucleic Acid
What are nucleic acids?
a chain of nucleotides bonded together
What are the two main types of nucleic acids?
DNA & RNA
Describe the structure and function of DNA. Where is DNA found.
DNA contains an organism's genetic information and is usually found within a cell's nucleus.
Describe the function of RNA.
The RNA molecules are also very important because they transport the genetic coding from the DNA to other
parts of the cell where proteins are built
Define nucleotides.
a monomer of nucleic acids; made up of a five: carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base
What are the three main components nucleotides?
nitrogenous base, a sugar, and a phosphate group
Why are DNA and RNA important?
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DNA and RNA are very important because they allow cells to reproduce their structures from one generation to the next.
Name of Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic Acids
Macromolecule
Monomer
(name of base
unit)
Properties
Functions structure,
(what it does) energy, storage, or transporting other
structural substances,
materials within storage, signaling
cells. from one part of
an organism to
another,
movement, and
defense against
foreign substances
Examples Fats, amino acids DNA & RNA
Phospholipids,
and Steroids
Practice questions:
The building blocks of a carbohydrate are:
A. Fatty acids
B. Nucleotides
C. Monosaccharides
D. Amino acids
Lipids are very diverse as it relates to their function. Which of the following is NOT a function of a lipid?
A. Insulation
B. Structural support
C. Provide energy
D. Control metabolic functions
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