biological molecules Flashcards
what is a biological molecule?
a complex chemical that is needed by every living organism for metabolism and make up their structure
what is “metabolism”?
by metabolism it’s meant all the chemical reactions taking place in the cells of the body
(it depends on respiration — for energy)
how do plants get the biomolecules they need?
plants make the biomolecules they need from raw materials (eg: through photosynthesis)
how do animals get the biomolecules they need?
the biological molecules animals need are present in their diet
what are the different groups of biological molecules?
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids
what are the elements of carbohydrates?
CHO (carbon - hydrogen - oxigen)
what is the function of carbohydrates?
carbohydrates are used as a short term energy source
what are the building blocks of carbohydrates?
simple sugars
what are the types of carbohydrates?
there are two types: simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates.
what are simple carbohydrates?
simple carbohydrates are monosaccharides (or simple sugars) which consist of one sugar unit that cannot be further broken down into simpler sugars.
(eg: glucose, fructose)
what are complex carbohydrates?
complex carbohydrates are the ones made by joining many simple sugar molecules together by chemical bonds. they are polysaccharides
(eg: starch, glycogen, cellulose)
where is starch stored in plants?
leaves, roots and sometimes in the stem
what is starch for?
starch is for nutrition and is stored as an energy source for the plant
what do starch and glycogen have in common?
they are both insoluble
what is glycogen used as?
glycogen is used as an energy source
where is glycogen stored?
liver and muscles
what is cellulose?
is a complex, structural carbohydrate made up of thousands of glucose units (simple sugars) which are held together by bonds in order to form long, unbranched chains.
what happens when many cellulose molecules are linked together?
they form fibres, which are the ones that give plant cell walls strength and rigidity
what are the elements of lipids?
CHO (carbon - hydrogen - oxygen)
what are the types of lipids?
fats and oils
what are the funcions of lipids?
lipids are used as a long term energy source, they help with thermal insulation in the body (to keep warm temperatures in cold areas) and make up cell membranes. they also work in the lymphatic system (hormones)
what are the building blocks of lipids?
one glycerol spinal cord and three or two chains of fatty acids
how do the different types of fatty acids affect the whole biomolecule (lipid)?
the different types of fatty acids can form different types of lipids with different properties
what makes simple sugars join into long chains to form the different complex carbohydrates?
enzymes catalyse the reactions that then join simple sugars (eg:glucose) together into long chains
what are the elements of proteins?
CHONs (carbon - hydrogen - oxygen - nitrogen - sulfur)
what are the functions of proteins?
proteins help with the growth, structure and development of the different living organisms. they act as enzymes, work in the immune system and help with muscle development
what are the building blocks of proteins?
amino acids