Molecules of Life Overview

What is the primary function of fats in the body?

How are phospholipids organized in a cell membrane?

What type of bond links amino acids together in proteins?

Which component gives phospholipids their hydrophilic nature?

What structure characterizes steroids?

Which of the following is a function of proteins in the body?

What are the building blocks of proteins?

What is a major component of cartilage and tendons?

Which of the following is NOT one of the four major classes of organic macromolecules?

What are the basic building blocks of carbohydrates?

Which type of carbohydrate is formed from the combination of two monosaccharides?

What is the name of the process that joins two monosaccharides to form a disaccharide?

Which of the following examples is a polysaccharide?

Which organic macromolecule class is primarily responsible for energy storage in plants?

What is the main difference between monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides?

Glycogen is primarily found in which type of organism?

Molecules of Life Overview

Cells are primarily composed of water and carbon-based organic compounds.
Organic compounds contain carbon; simplest form is hydrocarbons (only carbon and hydrogen).
Four major classes of organic molecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Organic Molecules Characteristics

Known as macromolecules due to large size.
Also referred to as polymers, constructed from smaller subunits called monomers.
Monomers serve as building blocks for larger polymers.

Carbohydrates

Main source of energy for cellular functions.
Building blocks are simple sugars known as monosaccharides.
Three classes include:
- Monosaccharides: Simple sugars (e.g., glucose, fructose, galactose).
- Disaccharides: Formed from two monosaccharides via dehydration reactions (e.g., sucrose, maltose, lactose).
- Polysaccharides: Long chain polymers made of monosaccharides (e.g., starch, glycogen, cellulose).

Lipids

Hydrophobic compounds that do not mix well with water.
Key types include fats, phospholipids, and steroids.
Fats serve mainly as energy storage, composed of glycerol and fatty acids, typically in triglyceride form.
Phospholipids form cell membranes, consisting of two fatty acids and a phosphate group, creating hydrophobic tails and hydrophilic heads.
Steroids consist of fused ring structures; cholesterol is an important steroid that supports cell membrane structure and synthesizes sex hormones.

Proteins

Polymers made from amino acid monomers.
Composed of 20 different amino acids linked by peptide bonds, creating long protein chains.
Amino acids consist of an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a variable side chain (R group).
Functions encompass:
- Structural components (e.g., actin, myosin in muscles).
- Defensive roles (e.g., antibodies).
- Transport functions (e.g., hemoglobin).

Explore the fundamental organic molecules essential for life, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. This quiz covers their characteristics, structure, and functions within cells. Test your knowledge on the macromolecules that drive cellular processes.