Structure & Function Relationships

1. What type of biological macromolecule is primarily responsible for storing genetic information?
   A) Carbohydrates
   B) Nucleic acids
   C) Lipids
   D) Proteins

2. Which process involves the removal of a water molecule to form a bond between monomers?
   A) Hydrolysis
   B) Dehydration synthesis
   C) Polymerization
   D) Denaturation

3. What is the basic structure of a triglyceride?
   A) 1 glycerol + 2 fatty acids
   B) 1 glycerol + 3 fatty acids
   C) 1 phosphocholine + 2 fatty acids
   D) 3 fatty acids

4. Phospholipids are described as amphipathic because they have:
   A) Two hydrophobic tails
   B) One hydrophilic head and one hydrophobic tail
   C) One hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tails
   D) No polar regions

5. Which of the following structures contributes to the “Fluid Mosaic Model” of cell membranes?
   A) Rigid lipid bilayer
   B) Phospholipid bilayer
   C) Protein-only layer
   D) Carbohydrate layer

6. What type of bond is primarily responsible for the primary structure of proteins?
   A) Hydrogen bonds
   B) Ionic bonds
   C) Peptide bonds
   D) Disulfide bridges

7. Which of the following is a characteristic of saturated fatty acids?
   A) They contain double bonds.
   B) They are liquid at room temperature.
   C) They are solid at room temperature.
   D) They are amphipathic.

8. What is the role of cholesterol in cell membranes?
   A) Provides rigidity
   B) Increases fluidity
   C) Moderates fluidity
   D) Forms triglycerides

9. What type of protein structure involves multiple polypeptide chains?
   A) Primary structure
   B) Secondary structure
   C) Tertiary structure
   D) Quaternary structure

10. The secondary structure of proteins is primarily stabilized by:
    A) Peptide bonds
    B) Hydrogen bonds
    C) Ionic bonds
    D) Hydrophobic interactions

11. Which type of biological macromolecule is made up of amino acids?
    A) Carbohydrates
    B) Nucleic acids
    C) Lipids
    D) Proteins

12. During which process are polymers broken down into monomers?
    A) Dehydration synthesis
    B) Hydrolysis
    C) Condensation
    D) Polymerization

13. What is the main function of membrane proteins?
    A) Energy storage
    B) Structural support
    C) Transport and signal transduction
    D) Genetic information storage

14. Which of the following is NOT a component of phospholipids?
    A) Glycerol
    B) Fatty acids
    C) Amino acids
    D) Phosphate group

15. What structural feature of proteins allows them to perform diverse functions in the cell?
    A) Their linear sequence of amino acids
    B) Their ability to form hydrogen bonds
    C) Their three-dimensional folding and interactions
    D) Their ionic bonds

Written Response Question

Describe the significance of the amphipathic nature of phospholipids in the formation of cell membranes and how this property contributes to the overall functionality of a cell.

Because phospholipids are amphipathic, they form a bilayer and allow for the cell to be selectively permeable, meaning the cell decides what comes in and what can’t