Bio-macromolecules Flashcards
What is a monomer?
A monomer is a single atom, small molecule, or molecular fragment that, when bonded together with identical and similar types of monomers, form a larger, macromolecule known as a polymer.
What are the 4 bio-macromolecules?
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acid.
What is the monomer of carbohydrates?
Simple sugars (monosaccharides).
Describe carbohydrates.
- Most common compound in living things.
- Consists of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
- Used as an energy source.
What are the types of carbohydrates?
Monosaccharide, disaccharide and polysaccharides.
What is the monomer of lipids?
Fatty acids and glycerol.
Describe lipids.
- Fats, oils, phospholipids, glycolipids and steroids.
- Contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
- Insoluble in water.
- Three functions: Store energy (have approximately twice the energy of carbohydrates), structural component of membranes and specific biological functions e.g. transmission of chemical signals both within and between cells.
Describe the structure of lipids.
A triglyceride with a glycerol unit and three fatty acid chains.
What is the monomer of proteins?
Amino acids.
Describe proteins.
- Almost everything a cell is or does relies on proteins.
- Made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.
- Plants can synthesis their own amino acids but animals must obtain some of them through their diet.
Describe the structure of proteins.
Made up of amino acids which join together in chains.
What is the monomer of nucleic acid?
Nucleotides.
Describe nucleic acid.
- Make up DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).
- A molecule of DNA is composed of two long strands of subunits called nucleotides. The strands of nucleotides are wound around each other to form a double Helix.
- The DNA code guides the production of proteins that carry out and control the many activities within the cell.
- When a cell divides new DNA synthesised.
- Made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorous
