The Chemistry of Life

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The Chemistry of Life

• Biomolecules
• Carbon Compounds

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You have probably learned about levels of
organization within living things in the past
- Organism
- Organ Systems
- Organs
- Tissues
- Cells
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But we are going smaller!
Just what size of things are we talking about
here?
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When you see the

• Copy the notes!

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• All living organisms require the same basic
  building blocks to survive and function.
• These large compounds give us energy, determine
  our characteristics, and form the physical
  structures that create us.

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Macromolecules (Large molecule)

• Monomers (small molecules)
• Polymers (large molecules made of many single
  monomers)

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• There are four types of macromolecules found in
  living organisms.
• Carbohydrates
• Lipids
• Proteins
• Nucleic Acids

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Carbohydrates
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Carbohydrates chains of sugars

• Monosaccharaides (simple sugars)
• i.e. C6H12O6 - glucose
• Disaccharaides (double ring sugars)
• i.e. sucrose table sugar
• Polysaccharides (complex sugars) starch,
  cellulose, and glycogen

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Carbohydrate Functions

• Quick energy foods.
• Storage
• Plants? starch
• Animals ? glycogen

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Lipids
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Lipid Functions

1. Important in cell membrane
2. High energy food
3. Protects vital organs
4. Insulates the body
5. Stores food (energy)for later use
6. Made of C, H, O

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Structure of Lipids
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Structure of Lipids
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Proteins
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Protein Function

• Most Abundant 50 of Dry Wt
• Build Internal Structures
• Movement Makes up muscle tissue
• Transport Carries oxygen in an organism
• Immunity Helps fight off foreign invaders
• Enzymes Speed up chemical reactions

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Protein (Structure)
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Nucleic Acids
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Nucleic Acids

• Two types of nucleic acids
• DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)
• RNA (Ribonucleic acid)
• Contain genetic code/information that determines
  our characteristics

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Nucleic Acids

• Monomer is called a nucleotide.
• Made from a sugar ring, phosphate group and a
  nitrogen base.

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• Short term energy source
• Used within 24 hrs.

Basic Structure
Function
Carbohydrate
Building Blocks
Examples
Monomer - Monosaccharides (ring) Polymer -
Polysaccharides (chain)

• Breads
• Cereals
• Fruit
• Starch
• Pasta

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• Forms structure of cell membrane
• High energy food
• Long term energy storage
• Insulates body

Basic Structure
Function
Lipids
Building Blocks
Examples
Monomer Glycerol (hydrophilic head) Fatty
Acids (hydrophobic tails) Polymer Octopus
appearance

• Fat
• Oils
• Butter

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• Forms structure of cells
• Fights infection
• Speed up chemical reactions (enzymes)
• Contracts muscles

Basic Structure
Function
Proteins
Building Blocks
Examples
Monomer Amino Acids (beads) Polymer
Polypeptide (giant tangled chain)

• Foods
• Meat
• Beans
• Eggs

• Internal
• Hair
• Skin
• Muscle
• Enzymes

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• Stores genetic code
• Pass genetic information to offspring
• Produce proteins

Basic Structure
Function
Nucleic Acids
Building Blocks
Examples
Monomer Nucleotides Polymer Double Helix
(DNA) / Single strand (RNA)

• DNA Genetic coding
• RNA Protein coding

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Crash Course - Biological Molecules