1. Explain how carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids exhibit emergen
ID: 192885 • Letter: 1
Question
1. Explain how carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids exhibit emergent properties in life. 2. Explain the structure and function of cellulose. Why is it called an insoluble fiber'? 3. Triglycerides are so named because of the features they have in common. What is/are the functional groups they have in common? What are the other structures triglycerides have in common? 4. Fats like lard and butter are solid at room temperature. What is it about the structures of their fatty acids that would support this trend? 9Explanation / Answer
1. Carbohydrates are biomoleclules consisting of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. they are collectively known as sugars, they are divided into Monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. carbohydrates are readily water soluble and serves as fuel and carbon sources. for eg the monosaccharide glucose is catabolised by every cell of our body to release energy. polysaccharides such as starch and glycogen serves as energy source and provide energy during starvation.
Lipids are hydrophobic biomolecules made up of long hydrocarbon chains, and release large amount of energy when catabolised. tri acyl glycerol composed of three fatty acids bonded to the three carbons of glycerol molecule is stored in adipose tissue as an energy reserve. some lipids such as phospholipids are amphipathic consisiting of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions enabling them to form bilayers. the plasma membrane of all the cells is composed mainly of phospholipids.
proteins are polymers of 20 different types of amino acids, these amino acids are arranged in a definitive sequence which enables conformational folding and arrangement of polypeptides. proteins assumes a three dimensional conformation which greatly affects the function of the protein, Proteins acts as catalysts in biochemical reactions, provide structural strength to the cells, helps in maintaining cell shape and transport of gases such as oxygen.
Nucleic acids consists of DNA & RNA which is composed of sugar, phosphate and nitrogenous bases (adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine and uracil), which base pairs in a specific pattern, A withT & G with C. this enables DNA to direct its own replication, it also directs RNA synthesis which in turn directs protein synthesis. Only DNA has the capability to self replicate whereas other biomolecules do not replicate on their own, hence it acts as the hereditary molecule.
2. cellulose is a polysaccharide composed of the monosaccharide Glucose linked with beta1-4 linkages. Cellulose is a straight chain polymer, multiple chains of cellulose are held together by hydrogen bonds forming microfibrils with high tensile strength. It is constituent of plant cell wall and provides great tensile strength to it. due to this fibrous structure, cellulose in insoluble in water and hence known as insoluble fiber.
3. Triglycerides or TAGs consists of a glycerol molecule esterified to three fatty acids. the three hydroxyl group of glycerol molecule, reacts with carboxyl group of fatty acid to form ester bonds. TAGs have hydrocarbon chain in common which makes them hydrophobic.
4. lard and butter has high proportion of saturated fatty acids, in which the fatty acid chains has single bonds. these single bonded carbon molecules forms a straight molecule which can easily be packed together to form a solid. hence saturated fatty acids exists in solid form at room temperature.
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