1.2: Macromolecules

Question 1

What are the four major classes of biological macromolecules

Answer 1

carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Question 2

Which 4 elements make up 96% of living matter?

Answer 2

Carbon, Nitrogen, Hydrogen and Oxygen

Question 3

What are the 8 types of proteins

Answer 3

Enzymatic; Defensive; Storage; Transport; Hormonal; Receptor; Contractile/motor; Structural

Question 4

What is the backbone of a lipid?

Answer 4

Glycerol

Question 5

What are the various chemical bonds called?

Answer 5

Covalent bond, ionic bond, hydrogen bond, hydrophobic interaction and van der Waals attraction

Question 6

What are the various ways in which a carbon framework can vary?

Answer 6

In length, in double bond position, in branching and in the presence of rings

Question 7

In the hydrolysis reaction, is H2O broken up or created?

Answer 7

Broken up

Question 8

In the hydrolysis reaction, is a polymer broken up or created?

Answer 8

Broken up

Question 9

In the dehydration reaction, is H2O broken up or created

Answer 9

Created

Question 10

In the dehydration reaction, is a polymer broken up or created?

Answer 10

Created

Question 11

What happens during the hydrolysis and dehydration reactions?

Answer 11

Polymers are broken up into monomers or created from monomers

Question 12

What are the 3 parts to the nucleic acid monomer?

Answer 12

Nitrogenous base; pentose (5 carbon sugar); phosphate group

Question 13

Name the 4 expressions of proteins structures

Answer 13

1. primary, 2. secondary, 3. tertiary and 4. quaternary

Question 14

Which one of the 4 macromolecules is not a polymer?

Answer 14

Lipids

Question 15

How many essential amino acids are there?

Answer 15

20

Question 16

The ‘essential amino acids’ are essential to the human diet because…?

Answer 16

They cannot be produced by any of the chemical reactions that occur in human cells

Question 17

The building blocks of nucleic acid molecules are called?

Answer 17

Nucleotides

Question 18

All lipids have in common that…?

Answer 18

They are hydrophobic

Question 19

Oils are liquid at room temperature because…?

Answer 19

They are unsaturated

Question 20

Animal fats are solid at room temperature because…?

Answer 20

They are saturated

Question 21

Explain the terms ‘saturated’ in relation to lipids

Answer 21

Saturated contains only single bonds, all carbon atoms have been ‘saturated’ with hydrogen atoms.

Question 22

Explain the term ‘unsaturated’ in relation to lipids

Answer 22

Unsaturated contains one or more double bonds, NOT all carbon atoms have been ‘saturated’ with hydrogen atoms

Question 23

What is cholesterol?

Answer 23

A type of lipid found in the structure of animal cell membranes

Question 24

What happens in the process of ‘hydrogenation’?

Answer 24

Unsaturated fats are turned into saturated fats by artificially adding hydrogen.

Question 25

Do all fatty acids attached to a glycerol have to be the same?

Answer 25

No, they can be a combination of saturated and unsaturated fats, of varying length, and levels of saturation.

Question 26

A protein is a coiled up string of …?

Answer 26

Polypeptide

Question 27

A polypeptide is a string of …?

Answer 27

Amino acids

Question 28

Why are proteins important to the living organisms?

Answer 28

They are involved in all processes, allowing organisms to function and reproduce

Question 29

What is the purpose of RNA?

Answer 29

To convey genetic instructions from DNA to the ribosomes to make proteins

Question 30

Name an example of a monosaccharide?

Answer 30

Glucose (alternatively: ribose and fructose)

Question 31

Name an example of a disaccharide?

Answer 31

Maltose (alternatively: sucrose and lactose)

Question 32

Name an example of a polysaccharide?

Answer 32

Starch (amylose), glycogen, cellulose, chitin

Question 33

What is the name of the polysaccheride that provides strength to cell walls in plants?

Answer 33

Cellulose

Question 34

What is the name of the polysaccharide that makes up the exoskeleton of arthropods?

Answer 34

Chitin

Question 35

What are the 3 types of carbohydrates?

Answer 35

1. Monosaccharides
2. Disaccharides
3. Polysaccharides

Question 36

How are monomers linked together into polymers?

Answer 36

By use of glycosidic linkages