3: Biological Macromolecules
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- 3.1: Carbohydrates - Carbohydrate Molecules
- Carbohydrates are essential macromolecules that are classified into three subtypes: monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.
- 3.2: Carbohydrates - Importance of Carbohydrates
- Carbohydrates are a major class of biological macromolecules that are an essential part of our diet and provide energy to the body.
- 3.3: Lipid Molecules - Introduction
- Fats and oils, which may be saturated or unsaturated, can be unhealthy but also serve important functions for plants and animals.
- 3.4: Lipid Molecules - Waxes
- Waxes are nonpolar lipids that plants and animals use for protection and have many functions in society.
- 3.5: Lipid Molecules - Phospholipids
- Phospholipids are amphipathic molecules that make up the bilayer of the plasma membrane and keep the membrane fluid.
- 3.6: Lipid Molecules - Steroids
- Steroids, like cholesterol, play roles in reproduction, absorption, metabolism regulation, and brain activity.
- 3.7: Proteins - Types and Functions of Proteins
- Proteins perform many essential physiological functions, including catalyzing biochemical reactions.
- 3.8: Proteins - Amino Acids
- An amino acid contains an amino group, a carboxyl group, and an R group, and it combines with other amino acids to form polypeptide chains.
- 3.9: Proteins - Protein Structure
- Each successive level of protein folding ultimately contributes to its shape and therefore its function.
- 3.10: Proteins - Denaturation and Protein Folding
- Denaturation is a process in which proteins lose their shape and, therefore, their function because of changes in pH or temperature.
- 3.11: Nucleic Acids - DNA and RNA
- DNA and RNA are nucleic acids that carry out cellular processes, especially the regulation and expression of genes.
- 3.12: Nucleic Acids - The DNA Double Helix
- The DNA double helix looks like a twisted staircase, with the sugar and phosphate backbone surrounding complementary nitrogen bases.
- 3.13: Nucleic Acids - DNA Packaging
- DNA packaging is an important process in living cells. Without it, a cell is not able to accommodate the large amount of DNA that is stored inside.
- 3.14: Nucleic Acids - Types of RNA
- RNA is the nucleic acid that makes proteins from the code provided by DNA through the processes of transcription and translation.