Biotech Unit 2 Part 1 - PDF

Laboratory Skills Unit 2, Part 1 Biomolecules  4 Types of Biomolecules Biomolecule: molecule produced by an organism 1. Carbohydrates 2. Lipids 3. Proteins 4. Nucleic Acids Follow Along  Carbohydrates Comprised of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen Examples of carbs: sugars, fibers,...

Laboratory Skills Unit 2, Part 1 Biomolecules  4 Types of Biomolecules Biomolecule: molecule produced by an organism 1. Carbohydrates 2. Lipids 3. Proteins 4. Nucleic Acids Follow Along  Carbohydrates Comprised of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen Examples of carbs: sugars, fibers, starches Sugars: monosaccharides, disaccharides, & polysaccharides (polymers) Monosaccharides are simple, single sugars that have a molecular formula that is a derivative of CH₂O  Carbohydrates Glucose is C6H12O6 (mono)  Carbohydrates Disaccharides: combination of two simple sugars or monosaccharides ○ Sucrose is a combination of glucose and fructose  Carbohydrates Polysaccharides are polymers with a few hundred to a few thousand monosaccharides ○ They serve as storage material (starches such as glycogen) providing sugar when the cell needs it or as building material for structures that protect the cell or whole organism (cellulose in plant cells)   Carbohydrates Functions: ○ Major energy source for cells Fast energy source Can be stored in polysaccharide form  Lipids Comprised of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen Examples: fats, phospholipids, oils, waxes and steroids Hydrophobic because of molecular structure (will not dissolve in water) NOT polymers  Lipids Fats are composed of two small molecules: glycerol and fatty acids ○ Glycerol is an alcohol with 3 carbons each with a hydroxyl group (OH) ○ Fatty acids have long carbon chains usually 16-18 carbon atoms in length with a “head” consisting of a carboxyl group and a “tail” which contains a long chain of hydrocarbons.   Lipids 3 fatty acid chains linked to 1 glycerol are needed to be considered a fat ○ They are also called a triacylglycerol or the more familiar term triglyceride  Lipids A saturated fatty acid is a lipid that contains hydrocarbon tails with no double bonds. The tails are “saturated” in hydrogen (lard & butter) Unsaturated fatty acids are lipids that contain hydrocarbon tails with one or more double bonds causing less hydrogen to be present (corn oil & cod liver oil)  Lipids Phospholipids have only two fatty acid tails and one glycerol and a phosphate group ○ Phosphate groups are hydrophilic while the rest of the phospholipid is hydrophobic ○ Makes up the bilayer of plasma membrane  Lipids Steroids are lipids characterized by a carbon skeleton consisting of four fused rings Cholesterol is the most common steroid in our body  Lipids Functions: ○ Long-term energy storage ○ Insulation ○ Hormones (chemical messengers)  Proteins Comprised of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen Made up of many different amino acids linked together AA + AA + AA + AA… = Protein  Amino Acid = monomer Protein = polymer  Proteins Functions: ○ Structural support ○ Storage ○ Transport of other substances ○ Cell signaling within body and from one organism to another ○ Movement ○ Defense against foreign substances Account for more than 50% of dry weight in a cell   Nucleic Acids Comprised of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus Building blocks of DNA and RNA Two types: deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid  Nucleic Acids DNA nucleic acids: guanine, adenine, cytosine, and thymine RNA nucleic acids: guanine, adenine, cytosine, and uracil  Nucleic Acids DNA contains our heritable genetic information RNA expresses our DNA via proteins  Nucleic Acids Functions: ○ DNA Stores and codes for our genetic information; passes on traits to generations ○ RNA Aids in protein synthesis Regulates the expression of information stored in DNA Viruses use RNA for genetic information Packet