Biological molecules
Biological Molecules
Carbohydrates
- Monosaccharides are simple sugars; examples include glucose and fructose.
- Disaccharides are formed when two monosaccharides join through a condensation reaction resulting in a glycosidic bond. An example is sucrose.
- Polysaccharides, like starch and glycogen, are long chains of monosaccharides.
Lipids
- Lipids are a group of organic molecules that include fats, oils, waxes, and other related compounds.
- Lipids primarily function for long-term energy storage and as structural components of cell membranes.
- Lipids are composed of glycerol and fatty acids.
Proteins
- Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
- Proteins are responsible for most of the cellular functions and are vital for the structure, function, and regulation of the body's tissues and organs.
- Structural proteins, like keratin and collagen, provide support and shape to cells.
- Enzymes are proteins that increase the rate of biochemical reactions.
Nucleic Acids
- Nucleic acids, such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), store and transmit genetic information.
- Nucleic acids are made up of nucleotides, which consist of a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine for DNA; adenine, uracil, cytosine, guanine for RNA).
Water
- Water is a crucial molecule in living organisms. It is a universal solvent, enabling biochemical reactions to occur.
- It plays crucial roles in transportation of substances, temperature regulation, and other metabolic functions.
ATP
- ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the primary energy carrier in all living organisms.
- Energy is stored in the bond between the second and third phosphate group in ATP. When this bond is broken, energy is released.
Understanding the structure and function of these biological molecules is essential in grasping the larger concepts in biology. From these individual molecules, you can start to understand how cells function and how bodies are built. Do spend time to review and understand each concept.