Organic Macromolecules in the Human Body

Overview

  • The human body comprises four major types of organic macromolecules:
    • Carbohydrates
    • Lipids
    • Proteins
    • Nucleic Acids
  • Each macromolecule has a unique structure and plays a specific role in the body.
  • Nutrients are obtained from food, where digestion breaks down polymers (macromolecules) into monomers (the building blocks) for absorption and use by the body.
  • Monomers can be recombined into new polymers through chemical reactions.

Key Terms

  • Organic Compound: Contains the elements carbon and hydrogen.
  • Monomer: The basic building block of a polymer.
  • Polymer: A large molecule made up of repeating monomer units.

Types of Macromolecules

Carbohydrates

  • Examples: Sugars, starches
  • Function: Provides short-term energy
  • Monomers: Monosaccharides
  • Elements: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O)

Lipids

  • Examples: Fats, oils
  • Function: Provides long-term energy and structural components; also involved in forming enzymes and antibodies.
  • Monomers: Fatty acids, Glycerol
  • Elements: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O)

Proteins

  • Examples: Enzymes, antibodies
  • Function: Makes up muscles and speeds up biochemical reactions.
  • Monomers: Amino acids
  • Elements: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), Nitrogen (N), Sulfur (S)

Nucleic Acids

  • Examples: DNA, RNA
  • Function: Carries genetic information
  • Monomers: Nucleotides
  • Elements: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P)

Questions

  1. How do cows utilize macromolecules from food?

    • The best description is:
      • The cow's cells break down macromolecules from food and recombine the resulting atoms to make new molecules.

  2. Chemical relationship between glucose and alanine

    • The best statement is:
      • Some of the carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms in glucose are used to make alanine.