Macromolecules

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Carbon

Monomers & Polymers

Macro-molecules

Carbs

Nucleic Acids

Lipids

Protein

Taco Challenge!

Monomers

Click on each term to learn its definition!

Monomers& Polymers

Polymers

Polymerization

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What is the study of carbon compounds?

What other elements bond with carbon to make up macromolecules?

Carbon

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Polymers

Functions

Monomers

Carbohydrates

Elements

Foods

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Polymers

Functions

Monomers

Lipids

Elements

Foods

Click on each icon to learn about lipids!

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Polymers

Functions

Monomers

Protein

Elements

Foods

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Polymers

DNA vs RNA

Functions

Nucleic Acids

Elements

Foods

Monomers

Click on each icon to learn about nucleic acids!

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What are they?

Why are they important to life?

Macro Molecules

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Primary Functions

• Regulate cell processes (enzymes)
• Form cell structures
• Transport substances
• Speed up chemical reactions
• Chemical messenger
• Support immune system

How many amino acids are used to make proteins needed by humans?

20

What elements make up carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates contain Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen. Which is abbreviated as CHO

Polymers of Lipids

One polymer of lipids is a triglyceride, which is the primary form of long-term energy storage in the human body.

Examples of polymers:

fats, oils, waxes, steroids, and phospholipids

What foods are rich in carbs?

Some examples of foods that are rich in carbohydrates are pasta, bread, vegetables, and fruits

What elements make up lipids?

Lipids contain Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen. Which is abbreviated as CHO.

What are the building blocks of lipids?

Lipids contain not one, but two monomers! Lipids are made of glycerol, which is a 3-carbon molecule, and fatty acids, which are long chains of carbon.

What foods are rich in lipids?

Some examples of foods that are rich in lipids are cheese, avocados, butter, lard, and oils.

(Click me!) Saturated vs Unsaturated Fats

Taco Challenge!

Now that you've explored all the macromolecules, decide which macromolecule is most abundant in each of the ingredients of a taco! Scroll over each ingredient to check your answers!

• Tortilla

• Lettuce

• Salsa

• Meat

• Cheese

What elements make up carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates contain Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen. Which is abbreviated as CHO

Primary Function of Lipids

• Living things use lipids to store longterm energy
• Some lipids are components of biological membranes and waterproof coverings

• Create steroids and hormones used as chemical messengers.

How do lipids react to water and why?

They repel water because they, much like oils, are hydrophobic nonpolar molecules.

What is polymerization?

Polymerization is the process of reacting monomer molecules together in a chemical reaction to form polymers.

What foods are rich in protein?

Some examples of foods that are rich in protein are meat, beans, yogurt, and eggs

Why do most foods contain nucleic acids?

Most foods contain DNA because most foods come from living things and all living things have DNA in their cells

Polymers of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates create many polymers, including polysaccharides (made of many, many monomers), and disaccharides (made two monomers).

Examples of polymers:

Starch, cellulose, and glycogen

What elements make up proteins?

Carbohydrates contain Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen. Which is abbreviated as CHON.

What is the study of organic compounds?

Organic chemistry is the science that looks at carbon-based molecules. These molecules are found in living things like plants, animals, and people. Scientists study how these carbon molecules are made, how they behave, and how they join together to make important stuff like proteins, fats, and sugars. Organic chemistry helps us understand life and how things around us are made.

What other elements bond with carbon to make up macromolecules?

Carbon bonds with four main elements to make up macromolecules: hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes phosphorus and sulfur.

What elements make up carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates contain Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen. Which is abbreviated as CHO

Polymer

Definition

Large molecule made up of monomers that are chemically bonded and linked together in a chain.

Examples

DNA, proteins, starch, oils

What elements make up carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates contain Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen. Which is abbreviated as CHO

Differences between DNA and RNA

DNA

RNA

• Double-stranded
• In nucleus
• Contains A, T, C and G base pairs.

• Single-stranded
• Travels out of the nucleus
• Contains A, U, C and G base pairs.
• Builds proteins

Monomer

Definition

Small molecule that joins with other molecules to form a larger molecule; smallest unit of a polymer

Examples

monosaccharide, amino acids, nucleotides

What are the building blocks of proteins?

The basic building block of proteins is called an amino acid. Amino acids help your body repair muscle, and build enzymes to control bodily reactions!

Primary Functions

• Living things use carbohydrates as a main short-term source of energy.

• Plants and other organisms use it for structural purposes (cell walls and exoskeletons)

Function of Glucose

Short-term energy source, provides nutrients to organs, and rest of the body’s systems

Function of Glycogen

Stores excess sugar in animals

Function of Cellulose

Gives plants strength and rigidity

Polymers of Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids only create two polymers, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA)

What are the building blocks of nucleic acids?

Nucleic acids are made of building blocks called nucleotides! The human body contains five different nucleotides: adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil. Thymine is only found in DNA, while uracil is only found in RNA; all the others are found in both!

What elements make up carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates contain Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen. Which is abbreviated as CHO

Primary Function of Nucleic Acids

• Store and transmit hereditary, or genetic, information

• Directs protein synthesis

What elements make up nucleic acids?

Nucleic acids contain Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Phosphorus. Which is abbreviated as CHONP.

Polymers of Proteins

The polymer of a protein is called a polypeptide. "Poly-" meaning many, and "-peptide" refers to the type of bond that holds proteins together--the peptide bond.

Examples of biological proteins:

Keratin, enzymes, muscle, insulin, antibodies, myosin, actin.

What are the building blocks of carbohydrates?

The basic building block of carbohydrates is called a monosaccharide (which means one sugar). These are tiny sugar molecules like glucose.

Examples of monomers:

Glucose, fructose, and galactose

What are they?

Macromolecules are large, complex organic molecules made from the products of smaller molecules (monomers).

Why are they important to life?

They are important to life because they provide structure, energy, ability to store and retrieve genetic information, and facilitate all biochemical reactions necessary for cell function.