Chapter 6, Problem 18STP

Summary Introduction

To describe:

The benefit of using monomers to make up complex macromolecules.

Introduction:

A polymer is a large change of a single unit of smaller molecules. These smaller units, generally referred to as monomer is joined to one another chemically in a chain. A macromolecule is referred to as a single type of molecule that consists of many atoms. For example, carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, etc.

Explanation of Solution

Every organism has a different type of macromolecules which they require to perform different body function. The monomers of the different types of macromolecules are the same. So, the organism uses monomers that they arrange into different macromolecules as per their requirement. Also, absorption of monomers like protein and lipids will take up a large amount of energy and breaking them to form a new macromolecule will consume a lot of cellular energy and will complicate the process. Hence, organisms use monomers to create complex molecules.