Biology: Macromolecules
This flashcard set breaks down the four major biological macromolecules—Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids—along with their monomers, functions, and examples. It’s a key study tool for understanding the molecular building blocks of life in biology.
What are the four Macromolecules?
Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids
Key Terms
What are the four Macromolecules?
Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids
The Monomer of Carbohydrates
Monosaccharides (Galactose, Glucose or Fructose)
The Monomer of Proteins
Amino Acids
The Monomer of Nucleic Acids
Nucleotides
The Monomer of Lipids
Glycerol and Fatty Acid Chains (2-3)
The Function of Carbohydrates
Short-term or immediate Energy Source
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
What are the four Macromolecules? | Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids |
The Monomer of Carbohydrates | Monosaccharides (Galactose, Glucose or Fructose) |
The Monomer of Proteins | Amino Acids |
The Monomer of Nucleic Acids | Nucleotides |
The Monomer of Lipids | Glycerol and Fatty Acid Chains (2-3) |
The Function of Carbohydrates | Short-term or immediate Energy Source |
The Function of Lipids | Long-term Energy Source |
The Function of Nucleic Acids | Store and Transmit your Genetic Information |
The Function of Proteins | 1. Controls the Rates of Reactions |
Examples of Carbohydrates | Monosaccharides - Glucose, Fructose |
monosaccharides | glucose, fructose |
disaccharides examples | sucrose (glucose + fructose) |
examples of polysaccharides | glycogen, starch, and cellulose |
Examples of Lipids | Fats, Oils, Waxes, Lipid Steroids (cholesterol), triglycerides, phospholipids |
Examples of Proteins | Enzymes, Hormones, Antibodies, Hemoglobin, Collagen, keratin |
Examples of Nucleic Acids | DNA and RNA |
organic | a molecule that contains carbon hydrogen bonds |
Four groups of organic molecules | Carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids |
1.A. What are the major elements of life? | Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, and nitrogen. |
1.B. What properties of carbon explain carbon's ability to different large and complex structures? | Carbon can bond to itself, has 4 valence electrons, causing strong covalent bonds to occur between carbon and another element. |
2.A. Name four groups of organic compounds found in living things. | Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. |
2.B. Describe at least one function of each group of organic compound. | Carbohydrates: main source of energy for plants and animals; proteins: regulation of cellular transportation of materials, cellular processes, formation of structures, and anti-bodies; lipids: storage of energy; storage or transmission of genetic information. |
2.C. Why are proteins considered polymers but lipids not? | Proteins have long chains of monomers, but lipids do NOT made up of components that make up a chain. |
3.A. What atoms constitute the compound above? | Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. |
3.B. What class of macromolecule does the compound belong to? | Carbohydrates |
dehydration synthesis | forms polymers and a water molecule |
hydrolysis | Divides a polymer into monomers through the addition of water |
Where do macromolecules get energy? | macromolecules get energy from bonds |
polymer | result of many monomers linking together (protein or peptide and amino acids or polypeptide) |
What makes up proteins? | polymers made of amino acids (50-500 chains long) |
amino acid is also known as a...? | peptide or protein |
What are nucleic acids made up of? | hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus |
monomer | single molecule; small chemical unit that makes up a polymer |
2 monosaccharides | disaccharide |
Key ideas | -All macromolecules are formed through dehydration synthesis |
hydrolysis | Requires water and releases energy |
Which is the only macromolecule that isn't a polymer | lipid |
What does "acid" indicate? | hydrogen ion is present |
Elements present in carbohydrates | Carbon |
Elements present in proteins | Carbon |
Elements present in lipids | Carbon |
Elements present in nucleic acids | Carbon |
Other name for Carbohydrate | saccharides |
monosaccharide diagram of glucose | |
disaccharide diagram of sucrose | |
polysaccharide diagram of amylose | |
amino acid structure | |
diagram of saturated | |
diagram of unsaturated | |
diagram of nucleotide | |
Dipeptides | two amino acids joined together by a peptide bond |
Nitrogen bases in DNA | Adenine |
polymer and amino acid relationship | Polymer is a protein aka peptide |
Triglycerides | |
carbohydrate structure | |
Saturated | Fatty acid consists of single bonds |
Unsaturated | Fatty acid contains double bonds |
Which macromolecule speeds up chemical reactions? | Protein (enzyme) |