Monomer & Polymer Notes

10/2014

Monomer vs. PolymerBasic Unit Chain of Units

Basic building blocks

Large molecule or chain of basic structures

Monosaccharide (Sugar) Polysaccharide (Starch)

Monomer vs. PolymerBasic Unit Chain of Units

Basic building blocks

Large molecule or chain of basic structures

Monosaccharide (Sugar) Polysaccharide (Starch)

Four Major Compounds in all Living Systems

• Sugars - carbohydrates, cellulose & starch• Lipids - Plant and Animal fat such as olive

oil & lard• Amino acids - proteins such as in milk and

eggs• Nucleotides - nucleic acids; heredity

Monomer: glucose, fructose, monosaccharidesPolymers: Starch, carbohydrates

Monosaccharide (Sugar)

Polysaccharide (Starch)

Sugars (carbohydrates): Instant Energy

Lipids (Fats): Long-term Energy Storage One Glycerol Unit = connects everything Fatty acid groups = branch off of glycerol 1 Glycerol + 3 Fatty Acids = Whole Fat

(Monomers) (Polymer)

http://people.ouc.bc.ca/woodcock/molecule/pic/fat.gifhttp://members.aol.com/Bio50/LecNotes/LNPics/ln03l.gif

• Monomer = 20 amino acids are the building blocks of protein

• Polymer = Protein • Humans can produce 10 of the 20 amino acids.

• The others must be supplied in the food!

• Unlike fat and starch, the human body does not store excess amino acids for later use—the amino acids must be in the food every day.

Amino Acids (Protein): Repair and Build Cells

Lysine

Nucleotides (Nucleic Acids):

Store and Transfer Genetic Information

•Monomer: Nucleotides (A, C, G, T, U)•Polymer: DNA & RNA