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Chapter 6.4: The Building Blocks of Life

Chapter 6.4: The Building Blocks of Life . Page 166. Organic Chemistry. The element carbon is a component of almost all biological molecules Life on Earth is considered carbon-based Organic chemistry – study of compounds containing carbon . Macromolecules .

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Chapter 6.4: The Building Blocks of Life

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  1. Chapter 6.4: The Building Blocks of Life Page 166

  2. Organic Chemistry • The element carbon is a component of almost all biological molecules • Life on Earth is considered carbon-based • Organic chemistry – study of compounds containing carbon

  3. Macromolecules • Small carbon compounds serve as building blocks for large molecules • Macromolecules are large molecules formed by joining smaller molecules • These large molecules are also called polymers • Polymers are made up of repeating, smaller units called monomers • Polymer = monomer + monomer + monomer + …

  4. 4 Types of Macromolecules • Carbohydrates • Lipids • Proteins • Nucleic Acids

  5. Carbohydrates • Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen • Sugars (glucose, monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides) • Bread, pasta, sugar • Function: • Energy source (short term) • Provide structural support in plant cell walls (cellulose) • Main component in the hard outer shell of insects and shell fish (called chitin)

  6. Lipids/Fats • Composed of elements carbon and hydrogen • Waxes, fats, oils • Composed of fatty acids and glycerol (called a triglyceride) • Main function: long term energy storage • Other examples: phospholipids (cell membrane structure), steroids

  7. Proteins • Composed of small monomers called amino acids • Amino acids are made of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, and sulfur • Function: • Muscles, skin, hair are all made of proteins • Structural support, transport substances • Communicate signals within cells • Speed up chemical reactions (enzymes) • Control cell growth

  8. Nucleic Acids • Store and transmit genetic information • Made of small monomers called nucleotides • Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorous • Two types: DNA and RNA

  9. Review • If an unknown substance found on a meteorite is determined to contain no trace of carbon, can scientists conclude that there is life at the meteorite’s origin? • A polymer is made up of smaller units called … • Another word for a polymer is … • List the elements that are found in carbohydrates

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