Biology: Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates

• General Characteristics:
  • Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms
  • Typically have a 2:1 ratio of hydrogen to oxygen atoms
  • Can be simple or complex
• Types of Carbohydrates:
  1. Monosaccharides:
     • Simple sugars, e.g. glucose, fructose, galactose
     • Cannot be broken down into simpler sugars
  2. Disaccharides:
     • Composed of two monosaccharides, e.g. sucrose (glucose + fructose), lactose (glucose + galactose)
     • Can be broken down into simpler sugars
  3. Polysaccharides:
     • Composed of many monosaccharides, e.g. starch, cellulose, glycogen
     • Can be broken down into simpler sugars
• Functions:
  • Energy source for cells
  • Structural components (cellulose in plant cell walls)
  • Storage molecules (starch, glycogen)

Proteins

• General Characteristics:
  • Composed of amino acids
  • Amino acids linked by peptide bonds
  • Can be simple or complex
• Types of Proteins:
  1. Structural Proteins:
     • Provide structure and support for cells and tissues
     • Examples: collagen, keratin
  2. Enzymes:
     • Catalyze chemical reactions
     • Examples: lactase, peptidase
  3. Transport Proteins:
     • Transport molecules and ions across cell membranes
     • Examples: hemoglobin, albumin
  4. Defense Proteins:
     • Involved in immune response
     • Examples: antibodies, interferons
• Functions:
  • Structural components
  • Enzymatic activity
  • Transport and storage
  • Defense and immune response

Lipids

• General Characteristics:
  • Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms
  • Typically have a high energy density
  • Can be simple or complex
• Types of Lipids:
  1. Fatty Acids:
     • Simple lipids, e.g. palmitic acid, oleic acid
     • Can be saturated or unsaturated
  2. Triglycerides:
     • Composed of three fatty acids and a glycerol molecule
     • Examples: fats, oils
  3. Phospholipids:
     • Composed of a glycerol molecule, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group
     • Examples: phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin
  4. Sterols:
     • Examples: cholesterol, ergosterol
• Functions:
  • Energy storage
  • Structural components (cell membranes)
  • Hormone regulation (steroids)
  • Insulation and protection (fats and oils)

Carbohydrates

• Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in a 2:1 ratio of hydrogen to oxygen atoms
• Can be simple (monosaccharides) or complex (disaccharides, polysaccharides)
• Examples of monosaccharides: glucose, fructose, galactose
• Disaccharides: composed of two monosaccharides, e.g. sucrose (glucose + fructose), lactose (glucose + galactose)
• Polysaccharides: composed of many monosaccharides, e.g. starch, cellulose, glycogen
• Functions: energy source for cells, structural components (cellulose in plant cell walls), storage molecules (starch, glycogen)

Proteins

• Composed of amino acids linked by peptide bonds
• Can be simple or complex
• Examples of structural proteins: collagen, keratin
• Enzymes: catalyze chemical reactions, e.g. lactase, peptidase
• Transport proteins: transport molecules and ions across cell membranes, e.g. hemoglobin, albumin
• Defense proteins: involved in immune response, e.g. antibodies, interferons
• Functions: structural components, enzymatic activity, transport and storage, defense and immune response

Lipids

• Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms with high energy density
• Can be simple (fatty acids) or complex (triglycerides, phospholipids, sterols)
• Examples of fatty acids: palmitic acid, oleic acid (saturated or unsaturated)
• Triglycerides: composed of three fatty acids and a glycerol molecule, e.g. fats, oils
• Phospholipids: composed of a glycerol molecule, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group, e.g. phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin
• Sterols: e.g. cholesterol, ergosterol
• Functions: energy storage, structural components (cell membranes), hormone regulation (steroids), insulation and protection (fats and oils)

This quiz covers the general characteristics and types of carbohydrates, including monosaccharides and disaccharides. It's perfect for biology students looking to test their knowledge of carbohydrates.