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The Chemistry of Life
Biomolecules
“Carbon Compounds”
You have probably learned about levels of organization
within living things in the past…
- Organism
- Organ Systems
- Organs
- Tissues
- Cells
But we are going smaller!
Just what size of things are we talking about here?
All living organisms require the same basic “building blocks”
to survive and function.
These molecules give us energy, form the structures that
make us, and determine our characteristics.
There are four types of biomolecules (macromolecules)
in living organisms.
1. Carbohydrates
2. Lipids
3. Proteins
4. Nucleic Acids
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates – sugars
 Monosaccharaides (simple sugars)
i.e. C6H12O6 - glucose
 Disaccharaides (double ring sugars)
i.e. sucrose – table sugar
 Polysaccharides (complex sugars) starch,
cellulose, and glycogen
Carbohydrate Functions
 Quick energy foods.
 How stored:
Plants starch
Animals  glycogen
Lipids
Lipid Functions
1. Important in cell membrane
2. High energy food
3. Protects vital organs
4. Insulates the body
5. Stores food (energy)for later use
6. Made of C, H, O
Structure of Lipids
Structure of Lipids
Proteins
Protein Function
 Most Abundant: 50% of Dry Wt
 Build Internal Structures
 Movement: Makes up muscle tissue
 Transport: Carries oxygen in an organism
 Immunity: Helps fight off foreign invaders
 Enzymes: Speed up chemical reactions
Protein (Structure)
Nucleic Acids
Nucleic Acids
 Two types of nucleic acids
 DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)
 RNA (Ribonucleic acid)
Contain genetic
code/information that
determines our characteristics
Nucleic Acids
 Monomer is called a
nucleotide.
 Made from a sugar
ring, phosphate
group and a nitrogen
base.
•Short term energy source
•Used within 24 hrs.
Basic Structure
Carbohydrate
Building Blocks
Monomer - Monosaccharides
(ring)
Polymer - Polysaccharides
(chain)
Function
Examples
•Breads
•Cereals
•Fruit
•Starch
•Pasta
Phospholipid
•Forms structure of cell membrane
•High energy food
•Long term energy storage
•Insulates body
Triglyceride
Basic Structure
Function
Lipids
Building Blocks
Monomer
• Glycerol (hydrophilic head)
• Fatty Acids (hydrophobic tails)
Polymer – Lipid
Examples
•Fat
•Oils
•Butter
•Forms structure of cells
•Fights infection
•Speed up reactions (enzymes)
•Hormones
Basic Structure
Function
Proteins
Building Blocks
Monomer – Amino Acids
(beads)
Polymer – Polypeptide (giant
tangled chain)
Examples
Foods
• Meat
• Beans
• Eggs
Internal
• Hair
• Skin
• Muscle
• Enzymes
•Stores genetic code
•Pass genetic information to offspring
•Directions to produce proteins
Basic Structure
Nucleic Acids
Building Blocks
Monomer – Nucleotide
Polymer – Double Helix
(DNA) / Single strand (RNA)
Function
Examples
•DNA – Genetic coding
•RNA – Protein coding
Crash Course - Biological Molecules