Biology

Building Blocks of Life

Definitions for Section 7

Carbohydrate Monosaccharide Lipid Protein Amino acid

Nucleic Acid Nucleotide

Biomolecules Molecules that

contain carbon are called organic molecules

All life on Earth contains carbon

Other elements found in life include CHONPS

4 major classes of biomoleculesCarbohydratesLipidsProteinsNucleic Acids

Carbs CARBOHYDRATES:

Compounds composed of C, H, and O in a 1:2:1 ratio

MONOSACCHARIDES: Simple sugars that are the building blocks of carbohydrates Glucose is a

monosaccharide Plays central role in

cellular energy Two monosaccharides,

such as glucose and fructose, can join to form something like sucrose (table sugar) made of

Longer chains can form, making complex carbsGlycogen (animals)

and starch (plants) store energy

Cellulose provides support for plant cells (cell walls)

Chitin makes up exoskeletons of arthropods

Sugars can be identified by the ending –oseSucrose, fructose,

lactose

Carbs are used for structure and energy

Grease is Good LIPIDS: Molecules

made mostly of carbon and hydrogen with few oxygen Includes fats, oils,

and waxes Main building blocks

are FATTY ACIDS Long chains of 4-28

carbons with attached hydrogens

Lipids important for structure, energy storage (2x energy of carbs (VERY IMPORTANT!))

Other important lipids includePhospholipids

(discussed in chapter 7)

SterolsInclude

cholesterol and the hormones estrogen and testosterone

Proteins PROTEIN:

Compound made of small carbon compounds called AMINO ACIDSBuilding blocks of

proteins Contain carbon,

oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulfur

Made of long chains of thousands of amino acids bent into certain shapes

Sequence of amino acids and shape of protein determines function!!!

Changing the shape of the protein affects its function

REMEMBER: STRUCTURE DETERMINES FUNCTION

Proteins used for structure, transport, cell growth, and building/breaking down substances, and energy

Important proteins include:Hemoglobin in red blood cells which picks

up oxygen (VERY IMPORTANT)Keratin, which makes fingernails, hair,

scales, feathers Special class of proteins called enzymes

Who Am I? NUCLEIC ACIDS:

Macromolecules that store and transmit genetic information

NUCLEOTIDES: Building blocks of nucleic acids

Contain carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and phosphorus

Include DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid)

Main purpose is to carry information

ADENINE (A)

Section 4 Assignment Create a table of the FOUR biomolecules. Be sure to

include in your table the type of biomolecule, their functions, elements contained within, building blocks, and 2 examples of each (not necessary to be too specific).

If you were given a chemical formula of an unknown substance, how could you tell if it was a carb, lipid, protein, or nucleic acid? Give me a reason for each major biomolecule. Then identify each of these chemical formulas as carb, lipid, protein, or nucleic acid.C3H7NO2S, C5H5N5PO4, C13H30O3, C12H22O11

How do organisms such as ourselves get the carbon, nitrogen, and other important elements?

Section 4 Assignment Create a table of the FOUR biomolecules. Be sure to

include in your table the type of biomolecule, their functions, elements contained within, building blocks, and 2 examples of each (not necessary to be too specific).

If you were given a chemical formula of an unknown substance, how could you tell if it was a carb, lipid, protein, or nucleic acid? Give me a reason for each major biomolecule. Then identify each of these chemical formulas as carb, lipid, protein, or nucleic acid.C3H7NO2S, C5H5N5PO4, C13H30O3, C12H22O11

How do organisms such as ourselves get the carbon, nitrogen, and other important elements?