Macromolecules
By Henry Murphy Hour 3
Macromolecules Are important to learn because they give us insight into how living things work
Macromolecules are the ingredients of life, and are large chains of smaller molecules made up many different combinations of atoms, but usually carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are in the mix somewhere.
Protein
Proteins are always made up of an amino group and a carboxyl group, and those can be strung together with peptide bonds. Proteins can perform many functions including helping with digestion, and carrying oxygen in blood. Proteins also form hair and nails.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Carbs are used for short term energy use and building cell walls. Carbohydrates can get together in glucose, like sugar, fructose, like corn syrup, and starch, like the stuff in potatoes.
Lipids
Lipids are composed of large strings of carbon with hydrogen on the outside with some oxygen thrown in there too. When a lot of lipid monomers get together they can form the best parts of bacon, or make peanut butter awesome. In the body, fat can be used for insulation or long term energy storage. Lipids are non polar, and are hydrophobic. (which basically means they hate everything about water, and what it could do to them) Lipids are in waxes, oils, fats and steroids.
Nucleic acid
Nucleic acid is made up of oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, and nitrogen. Monomers of nucleic acid are called nucleotides, and when a bunch of those get together they perform functions in the body like making proteins. Nucleic acids are in DNA, RNA, ATP and is in every cell in every living thing ever.