The term macromolecule (macro- + molecule) was coined by Nobel laureate Hermann

Staudinger in the 1920s, although his first relevant publication on this field only mentions high
molecular compounds (in excess of 1,000 atoms).[5] At that time the phrase polymer, as
introduced by Berzelius in 1833, had a different meaning from that of today: it simply was another
form of isomerism for example with benzene and acetylene and had little to do with size.[6]
Usage of the term to describe large molecules varies among the disciplines. For example,
while biology refers to macromolecules as the four large molecules comprising living things,
in chemistry, the term may refer to aggregates of two or more molecules held together
by intermolecular forces rather than covalent bonds but which do not readily dissociate.[7]
According to the standard IUPAC definition, the term macromolecule as used in polymer science
refers only to a single molecule. For example, a single polymeric molecule is appropriately
described as a "macromolecule" or "polymer molecule" rather than a "polymer," which suggests
a substance composed of macromolecules.[8]
Because of their size, macromolecules are not conveniently described in terms
of stoichiometry alone. The structure of simple macromolecules, such as homopolymers, may be
described in terms of the individual monomer subunit and total molecular mass. Complicated
biomacromolecules, on the other hand, require multi-faceted structural description such as the
hierarchy of structures used to describe proteins. In British English, the word "macromolecule"
tends to be called "high polymer".

Linear biopolymers[edit]
All living organisms are dependent on three essential biopolymers for their biological
functions: DNA, RNA and proteins.[10] Each of these molecules is required for life since each
plays a distinct, indispensable role in the cell.[11] The simple summary is that DNA makes RNA,
and then RNA makes proteins.
DNA, RNA, and proteins all consist of a repeating structure of related building blocks
(nucleotides in the case of DNA and RNA, amino acids in the case of proteins). In general, they
are all unbranched polymers, and so can be represented in the form of a string. Indeed, they can
be viewed as a string of beads, with each bead representing a single nucleotide or amino acid
monomer linked together through covalent chemical bonds into a very long chain.
In most cases, the monomers within the chain have a strong propensity to interact with other
amino acids or nucleotides. In DNA and RNA, this can take the form of Watson-Crick base
pairs (G-C and A-T or A-U), although many more complicated interactions can and do occur.

Structural features[edit]
DNA RNA Proteins

Encodes genetic
Yes Yes No
information

Catalyzes biological
No Yes Yes
reactions

Building blocks (type) Nucleotides Nucleotides Amino acids

Building blocks
4 4 20
(number)

Strandedness Double Single Single

Structure Double helix Complex Complex

 Stability to degradation High Variable Variable

Repair systems Yes No No

Because of the double-stranded nature of DNA, essentially all of the nucleotides take the form
of Watson-Crick base pairs between nucleotides on the two complementary strands of
the double-helix.
In contrast, both RNA and proteins are normally single-stranded. Therefore, they are not
constrained by the regular geometry of the DNA double helix, and so fold into complex three-
dimensional shapes dependent on their sequence. These different shapes are responsible for
many of the common properties of RNA and proteins, including the formation of specific binding
pockets, and the ability to catalyse biochemical reactions.
DNA is optimised for encoding information[edit]
DNA is an information storage macromolecule that encodes the complete set
of instructions (the genome) that are required to assemble, maintain, and reproduce every living
organism.[12]
DNA and RNA are both capable of encoding genetic information, because there are biochemical
mechanisms which read the information coded within a DNA or RNA sequence and use it to
generate a specified protein. On the other hand, the sequence information of a protein molecule
is not used by cells to functionally encode genetic information.[1]:5
DNA has three primary attributes that allow it to be far better than RNA at encoding genetic
information. First, it is normally double-stranded, so that there are a minimum of two copies of the
information encoding each gene in every cell. Second, DNA has a much greater stability against
breakdown than does RNA, an attribute primarily associated with the absence of the 2'-hydroxyl
group within every nucleotide of DNA. Third, highly sophisticated DNA surveillance and repair
systems are present which monitor damage to the DNA and repair the sequence when
necessary. Analogous systems have not evolved for repairing damaged RNA molecules.
Consequently, chromosomes can contain many billions of atoms, arranged in a specific chemical
structure.