Biomolecules

• An organic compound is a compound containing C, H, O and often N, P, & S.
• Organic compounds make up all living things and are necessary for life.
• Carbon can form single, double or triple covalent bonds.
• Carbon can form straight chains, rings or branched chains.
• RNA is single stranded.
• There are three types of RNA each with a different function: Ribosomal, Transfer, and messenger.
• The shape of DNA is called a double helix.
• Ribonucleic acid (RNA) contains the sugar ribose and uracil replaces thymine.
• Macromolecules are giant molecules.
• Carbon needs to bond four times to fill its outer shell.
• Carbon compounds can vary greatly in size, from just one or two C atoms to 10 or even 1000 C atoms.
• Macromolecules form when many smaller molecules bond together.
• A polymer is a molecule made up of many smaller molecules formed by a reaction called dehydration synthesis, which means water must be removed to bond them together.
• The building block of a polymer varies depending on the type of molecule being built.
• Polymers can be broken down by a chemical reaction known as hydrolysis, where water is added back in and the monomers separate.
• A carbohydrate is an organic compound composed of C, H, & O in a 1:2:1 ratio, with three types: monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides.
• The function of carbohydrates is to serve as the main source of energy for all living things.
• Monosaccharides are simple sugars that contain 3-7 carbon atoms in their skeleton and can take ring form or straight chain form.
• Dissaccharides are two monosaccharides combined minus water.
• Polysaccharides are three or more sugars (complex carbs).
• Lipids are organic compounds made up of C, H, & O, but not in any fixed ratio, with the building blocks of lipids being fatty acids.
• Usually three fatty acids combine with one glycerol to form a triglyceride.
• Proteins are organic compounds that contain C, H, O & N, and every cell contains protein.
• Nucleotides link together between sugars and phosphates, with nitrogen bases sticking out.
• Adenine pairs with thymine (uracil), and guanine pairs with cytosine.
• DNA is double stranded, with sugar and phosphates forming the backbone, and paired nitrogen bases holding the two strands together.
• A peptide bond is the bond that holds together amino acids into a large macromolecule called a polypeptide, with longer polypeptides being called proteins and made up of 50 – 300 amino acids.
• The different types of nucleotides include adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, and uracil, with thymine only in DNA and uracil only in RNA.
• Nucleic acids are organic molecules made up of C, H, O, N, & P, and are passed from parent to offspring, with each parent contributing one copy for a total of 2 complete sets.
• The order of amino acids gives a protein its shape, with the shape determining the protein’s function.
• DNA is Deoxyribonucleic acid, containing the sugar deoxyribose, and is the molecule of heredity.
• DNA forms the genes or units of genetic material that determine your characteristics.
• The functions of protein include being used in structural components, acting as messengers and receptors on the cell membrane, defending against disease, and acting as facilitators for chemical reactions (enzymes).
• Nucleotides are the building blocks of Nucleic acids, each made up of 3 parts: a 5 Carbon sugar (deoxyribose or ribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogen base (a ring containing C, H, & N).
• An unsaturated fat is a type of fat where the carbon chain contains double or triple bonds, usually found in oils.
• Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, consisting of a central carbon atom with a H, a – COOH, a NH 2 and a “R” group attached.
• The function of lipids is often referred to as fats or oils, but they are large macromolecules with two primary functions: long term energy storage and building cell membranes.
• Properties of fats and oils are determined by the fatty acids that make them up.
• Nucleic acids dictate amino acid sequence in proteins, controlling all life processes.
• Proteins that speed up the rate of chemical reactions would not function without enzymes, as chemical reactions would occur too slowly for life to exist.