Biomolecule Discussion Guide

Instructions: Fill in this guide as your teacher leads you through a discussion on biomolecules.

I. What is a biomolecule?
Organic molecule made of living organisms.
They consist mostly of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
II. Organic molecules and Inorganic moleculeswhats the difference?
Organic molecule contain carbon.
Inorganic molecules do not contain carbon.

III. Monomer and polymerwhats the difference?
Monomers are a single molecule that forms chain. Polymer- a chain of many monomers that are
chemically bonded together.
a. How are polymers formed?
Dehydration synthesis- is a removal of water.
b. How are polymers broken apart?
Hydrolysis- the reverse of dehydration synthesis.

IV. Carbohydrates: a group of organic molecules that include sugars, starches and cellulose.

a. Structure: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio.
Monosaccharides
b. Function: energy, structural support, cell wall, cell membrane marker.


V. Lipids: organic molecules group including fats and phospholipids.

a. Structure: glycerol and fatty acids plus phosphate group. Insoluble in water. Do not form large polymers
(2 or 3 fatty acids with glycerol)

b. Function: energy storage, insulation, part of a cell membrane, and hormones.


VI. Proteins: group of organic molecules that provides structure and facilitates chemical reactions.

a. Structure: amino acids, connected via peptide bonds, very large molecules.

b. Function: enzymes (speed the rate of chemical reactions), structural component in cells, mechanical
functions in muscles and cytoskeleton, cell signaling, immune response.

VII. Nucleic Acids: group or organic molecules including DNA and RNA.

a. Structure: nucleotides which contain 5carbon sugar, nitrogen base, and one or more phosphate group.

b. Function: storage and retrieval of information, encode, gene expression.