Download The Mac Daddies of Molecules

EQ: How is life based on
chemical processes?
Warm-up:
1. What is the meaning of each of these
prefixes?
…mono
…poly
…macro
2. Why is carbon important to all living
things?
Do you know?
What do all these substances have in
common?
The Mac Daddies of
Molecules
Or Macromolecules and their
functions in living things…..
Macromolecules-what are
they?
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Giant molecules formed from
monomers by polymerization into
polymers!
Monomers are smaller molecules, like
beads in a necklace or links in a chain
(think bling).
Polymerization is just a fancy term for
becoming a big ole molecule!
Macs…Important for Life
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Carbohydrates
Lipids
Nucleic Acids
Proteins
Carbohydrates
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Made of Carbon:Hydrogen:Oxygen in
a 1:2:1 ratio
Found in fruits, vegetables, & grains
Made from monosaccharides (single
sugars) which form polysaccharides
(many sugars)
Examples: glucose, fructose, starch,
sugars
We get energy from carbs!
Lipids
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They will not dissolve in water.
They are made of fatty acids &
glycerol (triglyceride=1 sug. + 3 fatty
acids)
They are fats, steroids, oils and waxes
Examples are margarine, shortening,
meats, olive oil, peanut oil
Lipids are used for storing energy
(why it pays to have some fat on you!)
Made of carbon & hydrogen
Nucleic Acids
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Are made of nucleotides (a nucleotide is the
monomer of n.a.s)with 3 parts– 5 carbon sugar+nitrogen base+phosphate group
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Commonly known as DNA and RNA
What they do: transmit genetic information
(in other words, why you have great aunt
Edna’s winning smile or uncle Harry’s ears)
Proteins
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Proteins are chains of amino acids (the
monomer of proteins), like a beaded
necklace, that sometimes fold into weird
shapes
Their functions are VAST!!!!!
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ENZYMES (promote chemical reactions)
Provide structure (hair, bones, muscles)
Antibodies (fight infection)
Carry things (oxygen from lungs to rest of body)
One more note about
proteins…
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Amino acids covalently bond in different
order to make different proteins.
THEIR ORDER DETERMINES WHICH
PROTEIN IT IS!
There are about 20 different amino acids.