From Molecules to Organisms

Molecules to Organisms Review

Open Ended

What are the four main macrocolecules?

Macromolecules

Macromolecules are large, organic compounds made of the elements:

• Carbon

• Hydrogen

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

• Phosphorus
  

Multiple Select

What elements make up macromolecules?

• carbon & hydrogen

• phosphorus

• oxygen

• nitrogen

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of "macromolecule"?

• Small molecules bonded together

• Very large molecules formed from smaller subunits bonded together

• Molecules with multiple elements

• Monomers that create polymers

Multiple Choice

What does the term "monomer" mean?

• A single element

• A molecule that can be bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer

• A complex carbohydrate

• A source of stored energy in the body

Multiple Choice

How would you define "polymer"?

• A simple sugar

• A substance that cannot be chemically converted

• A molecule with multiple elements

• A substance consisting mainly of a large number of similar units bonded together

Multiple Choice

What are "elements" in the context of macromolecules?

• Small molecules

• Substances that cannot be chemically converted

• Monomers of nucleic acid

• Building blocks of lipids

Carbohydrates

A carbohydrate is an organic compound that consists only of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (CHO). Your body uses carbohydrates (carbs) to give you energy and helps keep everything going. Your body can use

carbohydrates immediately or store it in your liver and muscles for when it is needed.

Carbohydrates cont.

In general, the smaller carbohydrate compounds are commonly referred to as simple sugars, which are found naturally in foods such as fruits, vegetables, milk, and milk products. These simple sugars are broken down quickly and give you short term energy. Starch is a complex carbohydrate. Starch must be broken down through digestion before your body can use it as an energy source. Quite a few foods contain starch

and dietary fiber such as breads, cereals, and vegetables.

Open Ended

What is the purpose of carbohydrates in the bodies of organisms?

Multiple Choice

The monomer(s) for carbohydrates are:

• Polysaccharides
• Disaccharides
• Simple Sugars

• Nucleotides

Multiple Select

The polymer(s) for carbohydrates are:

• polysaccharides
• oligosaccharides
• disaccharides
• monosaccharides

Multiple Choice

What is the ratio for carbohydrates?

• 2:1:1
• 4:3:2
• 3:2:1
• 1:2:1

Open Ended

Give one food example of a carbohydrate.

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of "carbohydrates"?

• Substances with only carbon and nitrogen

• Molecules with fast energy release in the body

• Large molecules formed from smaller subunits

• Elements in their purest form

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of "simple sugars"?

• Polysaccharides

• Monomers for lipids

• Monosaccharides, the monomer for carbohydrates

• Components of proteins

Multiple Choice

What is the term for a complex carbohydrate consisting of many simple sugars bonded together?

• monosaccharide
• polysaccharide
• disaccharide
• oligosaccharide

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an important energy source in living organisms and is a component of many carbohydrates?

• fructose
• sucrose
• starch
• glucose

Multiple Select

What are "carbohydrates" composed of?

• Carbon

• Hydrogen

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

Proteins

Proteins are part of every cell, tissue, and organ in our bodies. These body proteins are constantly being broken down and replaced. The protein in the foods we eat is digested into amino acids that are later used to replace these proteins in our bodies.

Proteins cont.

Protein is mainly found in the following foods: meats, poultry, and fish, legumes (dry beans and peas), tofu, eggs, nuts and seeds, milk and milk products, and grains. Most adults in the United States get more than enough protein to meet their needs. It is rare for someone who is healthy and eating a varied diet to not get enough protein.

Proteins cont.

There are 20 different amino acids that join together to make all types of protein. Our bodies cannot make some of these amino acids so these are known as essential amino acids – it is essential that our diet provide these. A complete protein source is one that provides all of the essential amino acids, for example, meat, poultry, fish, milk, eggs, and cheese are considered complete protein sources. An incomplete protein source is one that is low in one or more of the essential amino acids.

Open Ended

What is the purpose of proteins in the bodies of organisms?

Multiple Choice

The monomer(s) for proteins are:

• Nucleotides
• Fatty acids
• Amino acids
• Glucose

Open Ended

Give one food example of a protein.

Multiple Select

Proteins make up which of the following:

• enzymes

• hormones

• antibodies

• DNA

Multiple Choice

What is the primary function of "proteins" in the body?

• Source of stored energy

• Growth and repair

• Fast energy release

• Building blocks of nucleic acids

Multiple Select

What are "proteins" comprised of?

• Carbon

• Hydrogen

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

Multiple Choice

Bonus: What is the most abundant macromolecule in the human body?

• Proteins
• Nucleic acids
• Lipids
• Carbohydrates

Lipids

The term lipid is sometimes used as a synonym for fats, but this is technically incorrect. True fats are composed of triglycerides. Moreover, triglycerides that are solid at room temperature are called “fats” while those that remain liquid at room temperature are called “oils.” Triglycerides are also composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms, but in

different ratios than in carbohydrates.

Lipids cont.

Triglycerides have long chains of carbon and hydrogen bonds, which creates the hydrophobic (“water fearing”) tail. This property prevents triglycerides from mixing readily with water and causes them to separate relatively easily in solution.

Open Ended

What is the purpose of lipids in the bodies of organisms?

Multiple Choice

The monomer(s) for lipids are:

• Fatty acids & glycerol

• Nucleic acids
• Carbohydrates
• Proteins

Multiple Choice

What part of the cell do lipids make up?

• cytoplasm
• cell membrane
• nucleus
• mitochondria

Open Ended

Give one food example of a lipid.

Multiple Choice

Which organic compound is the source of stored energy in the body?

• Nucleic Acids

• Proteins
• Lipids
• Glucose

Multiple Select

What are "lipids" composed of?

• Carbon

• Hydrogen

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids are large biomolecules that are essential to all cells and viruses. They are made up of nucleotides, which are the monomer components of a nucleic acid. A nucleotide is made up of three parts: phosphate group, oxygen, and nitrogenous base.

Nucleic Acids cont.

Nucleic acids are chemical compounds that are found in nature and carry information in cells. They create, encode, and store information in every living cell of every life-form on Earth. Nucleic acids are also the fundamental units of information transfer in biological systems. For example, DNA encodes the information cells need to make proteins, and hereditary information is passed from parent to offspring through DNA.

Open Ended

What is the purpose of nucleic acids in the bodies of organisms?

Multiple Choice

The monomer(s) for nucleic acids are:

• Nucleotides
• Amino acids
• Lipids
• Carbohydrates

Multiple Choice

Examples of nucleic acids are:

• Protein and Lipid
• Carbohydrate and Enzyme
• DNA and RNA
• Vitamin and Mineral

Multiple Select

What are "nucleic acids" composed of?

• Carbon & Hydrogen

• Oxygen

• Nitrogen

• Phosphorous

How does the body break down carbohydrates?

The digestion process for carbohydrates starts in the mouth where an enzyme called salivary amylase begins to break down food starches into disaccharides. Salivary amylase is deactivated by stomach acid, but can continue to break down carbohydrate in the stomach if it is trapped within a bolus of food not in contact with the acid. 

Once carbohydrates travel past the stomach, they venture into the duodenum (a part of the small intestine) where they mix with digestive secretions from the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. An enzyme called pancreatic amylase continues to break down any remaining complex carbohydrates into disaccharides. Other enzymes called maltases, sucrases, and lactases break down disaccharides into monosaccharides (or single sugar units).

How does the body break down proteins?

Digestion of protein begins in the stomach. Food is mixed with an enzyme called pepsin which helps proteins break down into chains of amino acids called peptides. Gastric acid also helps to partially break up proteins to allow pepsin better access.

Once this food moves into the small intestine, a range of other enzymes (trypsin, elastase, and chymotrypsin) are released from the pancreas and start to reduce peptides into amino acids and di- and tri-peptides (small chains of amino acids). These are then absorbed into the bloodstream via transporters located in the wall of the small intestine.

How does the body break down lipids/fats?

Fats start their digestion process in the mouth via the enzyme called lingual lipase. Digestion continues in the stomach with the aid of lingual lipase and gastric lipase.  The majority of fat digestion occurs in the small intestine. Bile is released into the duodenum which helps in the digestion of fats via emulsification. Emulsification break down fats into smaller globules so they can be more evenly distributed through the small intestine. This also makes the fats more accessible to pancreatic lipase, which is the enzyme that further digests fats into free fatty acids. Free fatty acids are absorbed though the intestinal wall via diffusion to be transported around the body, or are taken up and incorporated into intestinal cells. Some fats will also pass undigested into the large intestine where they are broken down by gut bacteria into short-chain fatty acids. 

Multiple Choice

What body system(s) are used to process and distribute monomers/macromolecules?

• Digestive system & Circulatory system

• Respiratory system & Digestive system

• Muscular system & Skeletal system

• Nervous system & Circulatory system

Word Cloud

List two additional vocabulary words from this unit.