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Questions and Answers
Which functional group is primarily associated with the structure of nucleic acids?
What is the primary function of amino groups in biomolecules?
Which of the following is a monosaccharide?
What type of reaction leads to the formation of a disaccharide from monosaccharides?
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Which element is an exception for proteins, which typically contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen?
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What is the primary function of starch in plants?
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Which of the following is a characteristic of unsaturated fatty acids?
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What is the role of ribonucleic acid (RNA) as described?
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Which hypothesis suggests that organic molecules arose spontaneously under early Earth conditions?
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What molecule serves as an energy reserve in animals and humans?
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What is the primary role of cellulose in plants?
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Which component is NOT a monomer of proteins?
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What was significant about the Miller experiment?
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Study Notes
Biomolecules Overview
- Monomers are small molecules that bond to form polymers, the key building blocks of biological macromolecules.
- Four families of biomolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids.
- Common elements in macromolecules: carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O); nitrogen (N) present in proteins, phosphorus (P) in nucleic acids.
Functional Groups in Biomolecules
- Carboxyl Group: Can donate protons, acting as acids.
- Amino Group: Found in amino acids, accepts protons, important for protein structure.
- Methyl Group: Regulates gene expression.
- Carbonyl Group: Functional group in carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.
- Ester Group: Present in lipids for energy storage and cell membranes.
- Amide Group: Connects amino acids in proteins and is found in nucleic acids.
- Phosphate Group: Vital for nucleic acid structure, found in ATP for energy transfer.
- Hydroxyl Group: Present in carbohydrates, enables hydrogen bond formation.
Carbohydrates
- Monosaccharides: Simple sugars, e.g., glucose, fructose; provide short-term energy.
- Disaccharides: Composed of two monosaccharides, e.g., sucrose; formed through dehydration reactions.
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Polysaccharides: Long chains of monosaccharides linked by covalent bonds; provide longer-lasting energy.
- Homopolysaccharides: Include starch (energy storage in plants) and cellulose (structural component of plant cell walls).
- Heteropolysaccharides: Include pectin and hyaluronic acid.
Lipids
- Non-polar molecules including fats, oils, and waxes; hydrophobic in nature.
- Monomer: Fatty acids, characterized by long hydrocarbon chains.
- Types of fatty acids:
- Saturated Fatty Acids: Solid at room temperature; saturated with hydrogen.
- Unsaturated Fatty Acids: Liquid at room temperature; healthier, reducing heart disease risk.
Proteins
- Composed of 20 amino acids, with 9 essential amino acids from diet.
- Amino acids form polypeptides (proteins) by linking through peptide bonds.
- Hemoglobin is the protein responsible for red blood color.
Nucleic Acids
- Monomer: Nucleotide, key for energy transfer (e.g., ATP).
- DNA and RNA functions: Store genetic information, self-replication, and catalytic properties.
- RNA was the first macromolecule identified in protobionts.
Energy Storage
- Glycogen: Polysaccharide that serves as a key energy reserve in animals.
Origin of Biomolecules
- Early Earth conditions may have favored the spontaneous formation of organic molecules.
- Miller Experiment: First experimental test for prebiotic synthesis, simulating early Earth conditions.
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Four Stage Hypothesis:
- Production of nucleotides and amino acids before life.
- Polymerization of nucleotides to RNA/DNA and amino acids to proteins.
- Enclosure of polymers in membranes.
- Membrane-enclosed polymers gaining cellular properties.
- Oparin Hypothesis: Proposed the concept of primordial soup, where organic molecules arose spontaneously.
The Prebiotic Soup Theory
- Organic molecules accumulated slowly in the ocean, possibly sparked by lightning as the energy source for the beginning of life.
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Description
This quiz explores the essential building blocks of life, focusing on monomers, polymers, and the four major biomolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Understand the elements that compose these macromolecules, their functional groups, and how they relate to energy sources like glucose.