Macromolecules Quiz

Two of the four principle classes of organic compounds are proteins and nucleic acids. What is the relationship between proteins and nucleic acids?

• Nucleic acids use proteins for energy

• Nucleic acids are a subset of proteins

• Proteins are long polymers of nucleic acids

• Nucleic acids contain the information to make proteins

Answer explanation

Nucleic Acids = DNA and RNA

The genetic code

Instructions for making the other 3 macromolecules (proteins, lipids and carbs)

Resistance to antibiotics results from variations in the genetic code of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Which type of molecule encodes genetic information in Streptococcus pneumoniae?

• carbohydrate

• fatty acid

• nucleic acid

• protein.

Answer explanation

Key words: Genetic code = nucleic acids

Baby food manufacturers sometimes use proteases in their products. Proteases are enzymes that catalyze the breakdown of the proteins in these foods, making digestion easier for infants.

Proteases are which of the following types of molecules?

• enzyme

• fatty acid

• carbohydrate

• nucleic acid

Answer explanation

Key words: catalyze

catalyze = enzymes

In living organisms, lipids function mainly as:

• Sources of stored energy and transmitters of genetic information

• Sources of stored energy and components of cellular membranes

• Transmitters of genetic information and catalysts of chemical reactions

• Catalysts of chemical reactions and components of cellular membranes

Ovalbumin is a protein found in eggs. Which of the following best describes the molecular structure of ovalbumin?

• a group of six carbon atoms joined in a ring.

• a chain of amino acids folded and twisted into a molecule

• a set of three fatty acids attached to a molecule of glycerol

• a sequence of nitrogenous bases attached to a sugar phosphate backbone

Answer explanation

Key word = protein

proteins are chains of amino acids

Which macromolecule makes up the majority of the cell membrane?

• nucleotide

• lipid

• protein

• carbohydrate

A sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen base form the building blocks of which organic compound?

• Carbohydrate

• lipids

• protein

• nucleic acid

Answer explanation

Clue word = phosphate

Nucleic acids are the macromolecules that have a phosphate

Many plants have waxy coatings on some surfaces. This coating reduces water loss because it is not water-permeable. This waxy coating is which of the following types of organic molecule?

• Protein

• carbohydrate

• nucleic acid

• lipid

Answer explanation

Waxes = lipids

Not water permeable means it does not mix with water.

Like complex carbohydrates, proteins are macromolecules that serve many functions and can be chemically broken down and restructured. Both proteins and complex carbohydrates are which of the following?

• polymers made of smaller subunits

• sequence of sugars

• lipids of large molecules

• nucleotides of DNA

You are analyzing a compound in the laboratory. You find that it is made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a ratio of two hydrogen atoms for each carbon atom. What is the monomer that composes this macromolecule?

• fatty acids

• nucleotides

• monosaccharides

• nucleic acids

Answer explanation

C, H, and O = Carbs or lipids

Clue words = 1 Carbon : 2 Hydrogens = Carbs

The monomer of a carbohydrate = monosaccharides.