unit 4: macromolecules

what is a polymer?

a collection of monomers

esophagus

a long tube that connects the mouth to the stomach

what is a monosaccharide

a simple sugar/monomer, has to have 6 carbons, ex: glucose, honey

large intestine

absorbs water from indigestible material and processes waste

fats/triglycerides

abundant in animal fat, energy reserve, triglycerides are found in animal fat and are responsible for cushioning and insulating body

what is a reducing environment?

adds electrons to molecules, early earth was an overall reducing environment and today's earth is an overall oxidizing environment

what are the nitrogenous bases

adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine

what are the building blocks of protein

amino acids

what are the macronutrients/molecules?

carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids

what are the 4 main polysaccharides of carbohydrates

cellulose, chitin, starch, glycogen

sterol

cholesterol: HDL=good and LDL=bad, in cell membranes, precursor to steroid hormones: estrogen and testosterone

what is early earth's atmosphere?

contains carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen; volcanoes produce methane and ammonia, don't survive for very long under light; as the planet cools, water vapor condenses

what is the name of the sugar found in dna

deoxyribose

3 differences between dna and rna

deoxyribose vs ribose, dna has a double helix and rna has a single helix, dna: a, c, t, g and rna: a, c, u, g

purines

double ring: adenine and guanine

what are the three sections of the small intestine in order and their functions

duodenum: connects to stomach and continues digestion, jejunum: absorbs nutrients from food, ileum: connects to colon and absorbs products not absorbed by jejunum

examples of lipids

eggs, butter, oils

structure of amino acids

hydrogen, carbon, carboxyl, amino group, r group: 20 different kinds

starch

instant energy source, bonds are easily broken, ex: potato, rice, pasta

what are the functions of carbohydrates

instant energy sources, transportable or storable forms of energy, structural materials

what are the micronutrients?

iron, calcium, folic acid, vitamin a

what is calcium's importance and what foods can you find it in?

keeps bones strong, helps muscles contract and nerves function; can be found in: dairy, almonds, dark and leafy greens

stomach

large sac like organ that secretes digestive juices and is responsible for a large part of protein digestion

unsaturated fats are

liquid at room temp

why are macromolecule and polymer related?

macro means large and in polymers there is a large amount of monomers

phospholipids

main component of cell membranes, hydrophilic head likes water, two hydrophobic tails dont like water

what are the functions of lipids

major sources of energy, structure in cell membranes, waterproofing/lubricating substances, signaling molecules

when the body breaks down carbs what smaller molecule is released

monosaccharide/simple sugar/glucose

what are the building blocks of carbohydrates

monosaccharides and oligosaccharides

what are the building blocks of nucleic acids

nucleotides: sugar, phosphate, nitrogenous base

what is a monomer?

one part

small intestine

organ where digestion of food is completed

organic molecules vs. inorganic molecules

organic: contains carbon, inorganic: does not contain carbon

colon

part of large intestine mainly responsible for water and salt extraction

chyme

partially digested food

what are four types of lipids

phospholipids, sterol, fats/triglycerides, waxes

what is a polysaccharide

polymer, complex carbohydrates, consists of many sugars/monomers linked together, long repeating chains, ex: bread, pasta

examples of proteins

polymers: enzymes, muscle cells, hemoglobin; foods: meat, eggs, beans

four stages of protein structure

primary: order/sequence of a chain of amino acids, secondary: chain of amino acids arranges itself-b pleated sheet and alpha helix, tertiary: chains interact with each other, quaternary: subunits interact with each other- not all proteins have this stage

bile

produced in liver and contains salts which make lipids more soluble to enzymes

liver

produces bile and processes vitamins and fatty acids

what are the functions of nucleic acids

reproduction/inheritance: DNA and RNA, metabolism: ATP (energy currency of cells)

what is the name of the sugar found in rna

ribose

salivary glands

saliva is produced by these

pancreas

secretes enzymes that help digest proteins and carbohydrates

miller-urey experiment

simple molecules turn into complex organic molecules

pyrimidines

single ring: thymine, cytosine, uracil

saturated fats are

solid at room temp

glycogen

stored in muscles, used for energy, after glycogen goes away body uses fat for energy

rectum

stores feces until defecation

chitin

structural component in exoskeletons of insects

cellulose

structural support for plant cell walls, humans cant digest, animals can digest with help of bacteria: mutualism

what are the functions of proteins

structures, enzymes, transportation across membrane, communication/signaling molecules

lipid bilayer

tails of fatty acids go in middle to keep water out

gallbladder

the organ where bile is stored until it is needed

cecum

the receiving pouch for wastes from the ileum

pyloric sphincter

the sphincter located between stomach and small intestine

gastro-esophageal sphincter

the sphincter locates between the esophagus and stomach, allows materials to pass through

what are the 7 characteristics of life?

1. growth 2. respond to environment 3. metabolism 4. reproduction 5. evolve/subject to natural selection 6. organization: smallest organism is a cell 7. homeostasis: ability to maintain internal conditions

what is a disaccharide

2 monomers put together, sucrose

how many kinds of amino acids are there and how many are not made by the body but must be consumed

20, 9

what is an oligosaccharide

3-4 sugars/monomers linked together, ex: broccoli

how many kcal/g do carbs and proteins have

4

what percent of calories is carbs per day

45-65

lipase

enzyme in pancreas that breaks down dietary fats into smaller molecules

amylase

enzyme produced in the mouth and saliva that starts breaking down starches

pepsin

enzyme responsible for protein digestion in the stomach

anus

exit point for waste material

what are the building blocks of lipids

fatty acids

waxes

firm, pliable, water repelling, wax on leaves

what is folic acid/folate's importance and what foods can you find it in?

has a role in production of red blood cells in liver, vitamin b family, important when pregnant; can be found in: broccoli, spinach, citrus

teeth

help grind up food in the mouth

what is vitamin a's importance and what foods can you find it in?

helps heart, lungs, and kidney work, helps vision, immune system, reproduction; can be found in: fruits and vegetables, dairy, meats

what is iron's importance and what foods can you find it in?

helps transport oxygen throughout body, helps body make hemoglobin and red blood cells which are what carry oxygen, maintains heathy cells, skin, hair, nails; can be found in: breads, pastas, red meat

double helix

two sugar phosphate backbones

what is a calorie

unit of heat energy

oral cavity

where digestion begins; contains teeth, amylase, salivary glands