Biological Molecules

Anatomy and Physiology 12

Monomers

Building blocks made through dehydration synthesis or broken through hydrolysis

• amino acids

• sugars

• fatty acids

• nucleotides

Polymers

Large molecules made of monomers (macromolecules)

• proteins

• carbohydrates

• lipids

• nucleic acids (DNA/RNA)

• polysaccharides

Dehydration Synthesis

Process that joins monomers to make a chain of monomers called polymers

• joins OH- to create an oxygen bridge

Hydrolysis

Breaking of polymers

• oxygen bridge separates

Carbohydrates

consists of 1 part carbon, 2 parts hydrogen, and 1 part oxygen

• Energy : when bonds are broken, energy is released and is used by cells

• Structural : cellulose is used in plants

Monosaccharide

Monomers of simple sugars

• glucose

• frucrise

• ribose

• deoxyribose

Disaccharide

Two monosaccharides combined

• glucose + glucose = maltose

• glucose + fructose = sucrose

• galactose + glucose = lactose

Cellulose

Long chains of glucose molecules with no side chains that humans can’t digest because it’s fiber

Starch

Plants store their energy as starch and has few side chains

Glycogen

animals store their energy as glycogen and has many side chains