Chapter 2: Biomolecules

 Biomolecules 

What is a BioMolecule?

     - A bio molecule is any type of molecule that is produced by a living being

     - Ex: Carbohydrates come from plants

4 main types of Biomolecules: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, and Nucleic Acids 

Monomer vs Polymer: 

Monomers is a generic name given to building blocks for biomolecules (Think of them as a single Lego block)

Polymers are made by connections of monomers (Think of it like building a lego chain) 

Carbohydrates:

• Carbohydrates are types of sugars
• Made up of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio respectively 

Monosaccharides:

• A single building block (monomer) for Carbohydrates/Sugar
• Ex: Glucose and Fructose

Disaccharides:

• Sugar made from two monosaccharides 
• Ex: Lactose, Sucrose 

Polysaccharides:

• Chain of 3 or more monosaccharides
• Ex: Cellulose, Starch 

Lipids

• Don't have a conventional monomer unit like Carbohydrates
• Made of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen but the ratio of Hydrogen to Oxygen is less than 2:1
• Built of fatty acids
• Phospholipids are a type of lipids that make up the cell membrane (will get to this later, for now just remember that the membrane is made up of phospholipids)

Fatty Acids

• Can be called building blocks or monomers of Lipids
• Fats can chain to form Triglycerides(fats), Steroids, Waxes, Phospholipids --> Can be called the polymers of Lipids 

Proteins

• Made up of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and sometimes Sulfur
• Can change shape due to temperature or pH concentration --> More on that later
• A protein's structure (shape, size, etc.) determines its function or what is is meant to do 

Amino Acids

• Monomers for proteins
• Join to form polypeptides (polymer units of proteins)  

Nucleic Acids

• Made up of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Phosphorous 
• Building blocks are called Nucleotides