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MACROMOLECULES. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!. Macromolecules. Living things are made mostly of the elements Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosporus, and Sulfur (CHONPS) with a few other elements in small amounts.
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MACROMOLECULES YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!
Macromolecules • Living things are made mostly of the elements Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosporus, and Sulfur (CHONPS) with a few other elements in small amounts. • These create four key building blocks of life called “macromolecules”. Each of the macromolecules performs a different function in the body and is structurally different. • All macromolecules are polymers (large structures) usually made of monomers (repeating smaller pieces)
Macromolecules • The four building blocks of ALL life are… • Carbohydrates: for structure and energy • Proteins: for structure, function, and performance • Lipids: for insulation, energy storage, and waterproofing • Nucleic Acids: for genetic instructions • All living things (no matter how different they seem) contain these same four structures. Note: this is evidence for evolution.
Carbohydrates • Main Function – main source of energy (and structure in plants) • Monomer – Monosaccharide sugar • Polymer – polysaccharide starch • Chemical Test – Benedict’s reagent (sugar); Iodine (starch)
Lipids (fats) • Main Function – store extra energy, waterproof, insulate • Monomer/Polymer – None. Each type has a unique structure. • Chemical Test –Sudan Red
Proteins • Main Function – Almost everything from digestion (enzymes) to structure (muscles) • Monomer – amino acids (20 different kinds) • Polymer - polypeptide chain (of amino acids) that folds into a final protein • Chemical Test – Biuret’s reagent
Nucleic Acids (DNA or RNA) • Monomer – Nucleotides • Polymer – Nucleic Acid (DNA/RNA) • Main Function – genetic instructions • Chemical Test – No test