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Questions and Answers
What is the primary role of carbohydrates in nutrition?
What is the primary role of carbohydrates in nutrition?
Which of these substances is NOT classified as an organic molecule?
Which of these substances is NOT classified as an organic molecule?
What are macronutrients?
What are macronutrients?
What is the role of lipids in the body?
What is the role of lipids in the body?
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Which organic molecule is primarily responsible for structural support in the body?
Which organic molecule is primarily responsible for structural support in the body?
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Which term describes long chains of building blocks in biological molecules?
Which term describes long chains of building blocks in biological molecules?
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What is the primary function of nucleic acids in living organisms?
What is the primary function of nucleic acids in living organisms?
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Which minerals are needed only in small amounts by the body?
Which minerals are needed only in small amounts by the body?
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Study Notes
Biological Molecules
- Living organisms need around 25 elements for growth
- Carbon (C), oxygen (O), and hydrogen (H) are the most common chemical elements in living things
- Sugar, starch, fat, oil, wax, and proteins are called organic molecules because they are primarily made of carbon and hydrogen
Nutrients
- Nutrients can be organic or inorganic
- Organic nutrients contain carbon and hydrogen (e.g., carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and vitamins)
- Inorganic nutrients include minerals (e.g., calcium, iron)
Organic Compounds (Macronutrients)
- These are essential for life
- They are carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids
- They are needed in large amounts
Structure of Biological Macromolecules
- Many biological molecules are polymers, which are long chains of building blocks called monomers
- Monomers are the basic units of polymers
- Poly = many, Mono = 1
- These monomers link together to form long chains called polymers
Examples of Polymers
- Carbohydrates: Monosaccharides (simple sugars) link together to form disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose)
- Nucleic acids: Nucleotides link together to form DNA and RNA
- Proteins: Amino acids link together to form polypeptides and proteins
Elements for Healthy Bodies
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Minerals:
- Macrominerals are needed in large amounts (e.g., calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium)
- Trace elements are needed in small amounts (e.g., sulfur, iron, iodine)
- Plants need 18 elements
- Humans need 22 elements
Role of Key Elements
- Calcium is crucial for strong bones and teeth, nerve conduction, muscle contraction, and blood clotting
- Phosphorus is essential for bone formation and energy storage (ATP)
- Potassium regulates nerve signals, muscle activity, protein formation, and acid/base balance
- Magnesium is a component of bones and teeth, essential for enzyme function, and aids in nerve function
- Sulfur is used in some amino acids
- Iron is essential for oxygen transport in red blood cells
- Iodine is a component of thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism
Obtaining Minerals
- Humans cannot directly extract minerals from the ground
- Plants have special root hairs to absorb and transport minerals
- Plants use these minerals to create organic compounds like proteins and lipids
- We rely on plants to obtain these nutrients
Vitamins
- Vitamins are organic compounds essential for normal growth and nutrition
- They are needed in small quantities because they cannot be synthesized by the body
- There are 13 recognized vitamins
Water-soluble vs. Fat-soluble Vitamins
- Water-soluble vitamins are not stored and thus need more frequent intake
- Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and fatty tissues
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Description
Explore the essential biological molecules, including organic and inorganic nutrients necessary for life. This quiz covers macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, and delves into the structure of biological macromolecules, focusing on polymers and their monomers.
