Biological Molecules and Nutrients

Biological Molecules

• Living organisms require about 25 elements for normal growth
• Carbon (C), oxygen (O), and hydrogen (H) are the most common elements found in living things
• Organic molecules, including sugar, starch, fat, oil, wax, and proteins, are primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen

Nutrients Essential for Life

• Nutrients can be either organic or inorganic
• Organic nutrients contain carbon and hydrogen
  • Examples: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and vitamins
• Inorganic nutrients are minerals
  • Examples: calcium and iron

Organic Molecules and their Role in Nutrition

• Carbohydrates are a primary energy source for metabolism, found in rice, grains, potatoes, and fruits
• Proteins are structural components of the body and aid in chemical reactions (enzymes), found in meat, eggs, dairy, and legumes
• Lipids store unused chemical energy, found in vegetable oils, nuts oil, legumes, and some dairy products
• Nucleic acids are building blocks of DNA, essential for the development of organisms

Polymer and Monomer Structure

• Many biological molecules are polymers, long chains of building blocks called monomers
• Monomers are the basic units, while polymers are the larger structures

Molecular Structures of Biological Compounds

• Carbohydrates: Composed of monosaccharides (simple sugars) linked together
• Nucleic acids: Formed from nucleotides
• Proteins: Constructed from amino acids
• Lipids: Often contain fatty acids (sometimes with glycerol)

Essential Elements for a Healthy Body

• Minerals, those needed in large quantities are called macrominerals
• Minerals needed in smaller quantities are called trace elements
• All living organisms require 16 naturally occurring elements
• Plants need 18 elements; humans need 22 elements
• Examples of crucial elements and their roles:
  • Calcium: crucial for strong bones and teeth, nerve conduction, muscle contraction, and blood clotting
  • Phosphorus: plays a role in bone formation, storing and releasing energy (ATP)
  • Magnesium: a component of bones and teeth, essential for enzyme function, and regulates nerve function
  • Potassium: helps regulate nerve signals, muscle activity (heart rate), protein formation, and maintains acid/base balance in the body
  • Sulphur: found in some amino acids
  • Iron: essential for red blood cells, regulating oxygen transport
  • Iodine: a major component of thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism

Obtaining Minerals

• Plants absorb minerals directly from the ground using specialized root hairs, then transport them to other parts of the plant to form organic compounds
• Humans rely on plants for these nutrients

Vitamins

• Vitamins are organic compounds essential for normal growth and nutrition
• They are needed in small quantities since the body cannot produce them
• Vitamins are often categorized into water-soluble and fat-soluble, with differences in storage and requirement frequency

Explore the essential biological molecules and nutrients necessary for life. Learn about the roles of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids in nutrition, as well as the elements that support normal growth in living organisms. This quiz will deepen your understanding of organic and inorganic nutrients.