Biology: DNA And Macromolecules

1. An understanding of chemistry is important for an understanding of biology because biology needs the models of chemistry to better describe life.

Atoms are the basic units of matter and all life is based on them. Life on earth is based on the element carbon. It is a highly versatile atom able to form four covalent bonds with itself or other atoms such as hydrogen and water. Atoms combine to form molecules and those that are carbon based are referred to as organic molecules. Organic molecules occur in four different types in living cells; carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. They are also known as hydrocarbons due to the presence of both hydrogen and carbon. Carbohydrates are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio 1:2:1. They are important sources of energy and are classified in three main groups; monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides.

Carbohydrates are used for energy and structural support in cell walls of plants and exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects. They are also used to make cell structures and can make a large group of chemical compounds. Carbohydrates are also made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The testing solution for carbohydrates is Benedict and iodine. Next is proteins, they help bulk up all solid materials inside your body, such as your muscle, hair, skin, and inside organs. Proteins also make up some hormones which help with the chemical control in the body. They

Protein: (formerly) a substance thought to be the essential nitrogenous component of all organic bodies

c)Lipids monomer(s) are called fatty acid and glycerol. The functional group is called ester. The linkage type of lipids is non polar bonds or sometimes called ester bonds. The primary function of lipids is energy, hormone production and insulation of the body.

An example of an organic compound can be any substance of solid liquid or gas.

Lipids are molecules that contain hydrocarbons and make up the building blocks of the structure and function of living cells. (Dr. Ananya Mandal, MD, 10/09/2012, Para.1) The lipids that are usually in our foods are fats and oils. Lipids are hydrophobic, meaning they have little or no affinity for water. (Neil A. Campbell,

Then, nucleic acids are made up of nucleotides and has the ability to make new cells. Finally, Lipids. Lipids are made up of glycerol and fatty acids. Lipids play a big role in the body, it provides cushion and insulation for the larger organisms in our bodies. All of these macromolecules and monomers are needed to make energy.

This section will dealt with the main organic molecules in living things: carbohydrates, fats ( lipids ), proteins and nucleic acids.

B. Using examples to illustrate your answer, describe the functions of lipids in organism. Lipids are a useful energy source. They are also an energy store, since they are insoluble in water and have a high energy content it makes them ideal for storage. This energy store is used make up for heat, movement and energy lost by respiration. This energy store is also useful in plants (e.g. sunflower) because it is needed for seed dispersion.

Protein plays an important roll in our bodies. It helps to build and repair body tissue, keeps us energized and helps us fight off infections , make up eighteen percent of an adults body weight, and participate in every body function. That’s just five of many reasons why protein is important to each individual. You can have to much protein or not enough protein in your body. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Hundreds of amino acids come together to form a protein. Proteins are sixteen percent nitrogen and is the primary source of nitrogen in the diet also carrying small resources

There are four types of biomolecules, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Carbohydrates are large chains of sugar found in food and living tissues. This includes sugars, starch, and cellulose. They have the same ratio of hydrogen and oxygen that water has, 2:1. They are broken down to release energy in the animal body. Lipids are any organic compounds that are fatty acids and don’t dissolve in water but do in organic solvents. Fatty acids can be found in natural oils, waxes, and steroids. Proteins are macromolecules that do everything in the cell. They are tools and machines that make things happen. Nucleic acids are long strands of nucleotides, and function primarily in storage and transmission of genetic information. There are two types of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA. DNA is the genetic material of all cellular organisms, and RNA sends out messages from the information that is held in the DNA.

Deoxyribonucleic (DNA) is the molecule that hold the genetic information of living things. In our body every cell contains about 2 meters of DNA. DNA is copied every time a cell divides. Deoxyribonucleic (DNA) is made up of two polynucleotide strands. Polynucleotide strands twist around each other, forming a shape that looks like a ladder called a double helix. The two polynucleotide strands run antiaparallel to each other with nitrogenous bases this means that the stands run in opposite directions, parallel to one another. The DNA molecule consists of two backbones chains of sugars and phosphate groups. The organic bases held together by hydrogen bonds. Although bases bonded together are termed paired

Organic compounds are, by definition, any chemical compound containing carbon. These compounds include carbohydrates, polysaccharides, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Each one of these compounds has a different purpose. Carbohydrates give energy to cells when consumed. Lipids are basically the fats of a cell. Proteins are the building blocks of muscle in a cell. Nucleic acids are used to transfer genetic information from one cell to the other.

EXPLANATION: The chemical compounds of living things are known as organic compounds because of their association with organisms. Organic compounds, which are the compounds associated with life processes, are the subject matter of organic chemistry. Among the numerous types of organic compounds, four major categories are found in all living things: carbohydrates, lipids, protein, and nucleic acids.