Question

proteins
the third class of macromolecules that form muscles, transport o2 (hemoglobin), and act as hormones and enzymes. most importantly, proteins determine how our bodies look and function. their building block is the amino acid. proteins are made of amino acids combined through a dehydration link called a peptide bond. when groups of amino acids are joined together, a protein is formed.

1. what are some of the functions of proteins?
2. what is the building block of proteins?
3. what is the name of the bond that joins amino acids?

there are about 20 different kinds of amino acids. these amino acids consist of five separate parts. the first is a central carbon atom. second is a carboxyl group (-cooh). third is an amino group (-nh2). fourth is a hydrogen. the fifth group is a variable r group. the only difference in the 20 kinds of amino acids is the r group. some r groups are very small, others are large, and even others form chains and rings. the sequence and shapes of the r groups control the shape and function of the protein.

1. what part of the amino acid varies from one amino acid to another?
2. what determines the shape and function of a protein?

nucleic acids
the fourth class of macromolecules is the nucleic acids. this class involves the genetic materials, dna and rna. dna is the blueprint of life because it contains instructions on how to make proteins in the body. each individuals dna is unique, which means that each individual has a unique set of proteins. that is why each of us looks and behaves differently. rna is a copy of dna. because dna cant leave the cells nucleus, and because proteins are constructed outside of the nucleus in the cytoplasm, the rna is necessary to carry the instructions from dna to the cytoplasm where the protein is made.

1. what are the two types of nucleic acids?
2. what is the role of dna?
3. how does the role of rna differ from that of dna?

the monomer of nucleic acids is the nucleotide. all nucleic acids are formed from a series of these nucleotides. nucleotides consist of three parts: a five - carbon sugar, a phosphate group and a nitrogen base.

1. what is the building block of nucleic acids?
2. what are the three parts of this monomer?

the structure of dna resembles that of a twisted ladder. this twisted ladder of dna is called a double helix. the rails of the dna ladder are made from alternating sugars and phosphates (sugar - phosphate - sugar - phosphate - sugar...). in dna, the sugar is called deoxyribose. the rungs of the ladder are made of four different kinds of bases, with one base hanging off of the sugar portion of each rails. the four bases are a, t, c and g. the rails of the ladder are held together because the bases from one rail bond to the bases from the other rail to form rungs. the bases from one side of the ladder attach to the bases hanging from the other rail. this keeps the ladder together. the bases attach to one another in a very specific way: a bases always attach to t bases, and c bases always attach to g bases.

1. describe the structure and shape of dna.
2. what are the rails of the ladder made of?

Explanation:

1. Proteins form muscles, transport O2 (hemoglobin), act as hormones and enzymes, and determine body appearance and function.
2. The building - block of proteins is the amino acid.
3. The bond that joins amino acids is a peptide bond.
4. The 'R' group of the amino acid varies from one amino acid to another.
5. The sequence and shapes of the 'R' groups determine the shape and function of a protein.
6. The two types of nucleic acids are DNA and RNA.
7. DNA is the blueprint of life as it contains instructions on how to make proteins in the body.
8. DNA can't leave the cell's nucleus, while RNA is a copy of DNA and carries instructions from DNA to the cytoplasm where proteins are made.
9. The building - block of nucleic acids is the nucleotide.
10. The three parts of the nucleotide are a five - carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen base.
11. DNA has a double - helix structure, resembling a twisted ladder.
12. The rails of the DNA ladder are made from alternating sugars (deoxyribose) and phosphates.

Answer:

1. Form muscles, transport O2, act as hormones and enzymes, determine body appearance and function.
2. Amino acid.
3. Peptide bond.
4. 'R' group.
5. Sequence and shapes of 'R' groups.
6. DNA and RNA.
7. Blueprint of life, contains instructions to make proteins.
8. DNA can't leave nucleus, RNA is a copy and carries instructions to cytoplasm.
9. Nucleotide.
10. Five - carbon sugar, phosphate group, nitrogen base.
11. Double - helix, like a twisted ladder.
12. Alternating sugars (deoxyribose) and phosphates.