SCIENCE G10 – Q4- Week 3 - 4

MODULE 4
MATTER
BIOMOLECULES
Week 3: Elements present in Biomolecules & Carbohydrates, Lipids, protein and Nucleic Acid

INTRODUCTION :

What keeps the world dynamic and alive are the diverse living organisms living in it. These organisms
are composed of cells that work together to perform life-changing processes.

A huge array of molecules is present in the cell. The structure of each molecule determines the
chemical reactions it is able to participate and the role it plays in the cell’s life processes. These molecules
produced by living organisms are called biomolecules.

Biomolecule, also called biological molecule, any of numerous substances that are produced by cells
and living organisms. Biomolecules have a wide range of sizes and structures and perform a vast array of
functions. The four major types of biomolecules are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins.

Biomolecules are all biological materials exclusive of cells and structural proteins when they are used
as the “natural biomaterials” themselves. Biomolecules include proteins, lipids, etc., and can serve various
functions like providing structural integrity to the tissue-engineered constructs. These include various growth
factors, differentiation factors, and angiogenic factors essential in all categories of tissue engineering along
with bone morphogenic proteins with a broad range of functional properties. Many biomolecules may assist the
host with various functions like may support cell attachment, cell growth (or apoptosis), cell differentiation, cell
migration, neovascularization, etc. All the functions indeed may be performed differently according to the
biochemical, cellular, and biomechanical behavior.

Most biomolecules are organic compounds, and just four elements—oxygen, carbon, hydrogen,
and nitrogen—make up 96% of the human body's mass.

Biochemistry aims to explain biological form and function in chemical terms. One of the most fruitful
approaches to understanding biological phenomena has been to purify an individual chemical component, such
as a protein, from a living organism and to characterize its chemical structure or catalytic activity. As we begin
the study of biomolecules and their interactions, some basic questions deserve attention. What chemical
elements are found in cells? What kinds of molecules are present in living matter? In what proportions do they
occur? How did they come to be there? In what ways are the kinds of molecules found in living cells especially
suited to their roles?

LESSONS AND COVERAGE:

Topics You will learn to…

Elements present in biomolecules
Carbohydrates, Lipids, protein and
Nucleic Acid
Food Labels
Demonstrate an understanding of the structure of biomolecules, which
are made up mostly of a limited numbers of elements, such as carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen
Recognize the major categories of biomolecules such as carbohydrates,
lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Interprets food labels in terms of percentage composition in relation to
the required daily intake of carbohydrates/sugar, protein and fats.
PRE TEST: Choose the best answer that describes the following statements. Write the letter of your
choice before each number.

_____1. Biomolecules are organic molecules being produced by living organisms. Which group comprised the
four main biomolecules.
A. carbohydrate, protein, nucleic acid, amino acid
B. carbohydrate, protein, lipid, nucleic acid
C. protein, lipid, nucleic acid, triglyceride
D. protein, lipid, carbohydrate, nucleotide

_____2. Which of the following elements is not present in carbohydrates ?

A. carbon B. hydrogen C. nitrogen D. oxygen

_____3. Disaccharides are double sugars. Which one is not a disaccharide ?

A. galactose B. maltose C. sucrose D. lactose

_____4. DNA and RNA are the two known nucleic acids. All of the following shows differences between the
two nucleic acids except _____.
A. DNA contains sugar deoxyribose; RNA
B. DNA has uracil (U) nitrogen base; RNA has thymine (T) nitrogen base
C. DNA is double helix; RNA is single helix
D DNA is self-replicating; RNA is synthesized from DNA when needed

_____5. A nucleotide structure always has three components: five carbon sugar molecule, a molecule of a
Nitrogen-containing base, and a molecule of ______.
A. Sulfate B. phosphate C. carbonate D. nitrate

_____6. Which of the following amino acids is considered as essential amino acid ?
A. Glycine B. glutamine C. histidine D. alanine

_____7. Which protein structure gives you the final 3-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide molecule
where the alpha helix and the pleated sheet are folded forming a globular protein
A. Primary structure B. secondary structure C. tertiary structure D. quarternary structure

_____8. The DNA chain sequence, CCGTAA, has a complementary base sequence equal to
A. GGCATA B. GGCATT C. GGCTAA D. CCGATT

_____9. Which is not true about lipids ?

A. They are hydrophilic.
B. They are hydrophobic
C. They can be dissolved away by solvents that are nonpolar like ether, acetone, and benzene.
D. Glycerol and fatty acids are its building blocks.

____10. For healthy vision and bone growth, one needs to consumed a vitamin known as
A. thiamine B. retinol C. niacin D. tocopherol
 BIOMOLECULES

KWHL Chart
The students will answer KW part. The HL part will be answered after the unit.

What I Know

What I Want to Know

How I learned

What I Learned

Types of Biomolecules

There are four major classes of Biomolecules –  Carbohydrates, Proteins, Nucleic acids and Lipids. Each of
them is discussed below.

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are chemically defined as polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones or compounds which produce them
on hydrolysis. In layman’s terms, we acknowledge carbohydrates as sugars or substances that taste sweet. They
are collectively called as saccharides (Greek: sakcharon = sugar). Depending on the number of constituting
sugar units obtained upon hydrolysis, they are classified as monosaccharides (1 unit), oligosaccharides (2-10
units) and polysaccharides (more than 10 units). They have multiple functions’ viz. they’re the most abundant
dietary source of energy; they are structurally very important for many living organisms as they form a major
structural component, e.g. cellulose is an important structural fibre for plants.
Explore more about Carbohydrates 

Proteins
Proteins are another class of indispensable biomolecules, which make up around 50per cent of the cellular dry
weight. Proteins are polymers of amino acids arranged in the form of polypeptide chains. The structure of
proteins is classified as primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary in some cases. These structures are based on
the level of complexity of the folding of a polypeptide chain. Proteins play both structural and dynamic roles.
Myosin is the protein that allows movement by contraction of muscles. Most enzymes are proteinaceous in
nature.
Explore more about Proteins 

Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids refer to the genetic material found in the cell that carries all the hereditary information from
parents to progeny. There are two types of nucleic acids namely, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic
acid (RNA). The main function of nucleic acid is the transfer of genetic information and synthesis of proteins
by processes known as translation and transcription. The monomeric unit of nucleic acids is known as
nucleotide and is composed of a nitrogenous base, pentose sugar, and phosphate. The nucleotides are linked by
a 3’ and 5’ phosphodiester bond. The nitrogen base attached to the pentose sugar makes the nucleotide distinct.
There are 4 major nitrogenous bases found in DNA: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. In RNA, thymine
is replaced by uracil. The DNA structure is described as a double-helix or double-helical structure which is
formed by hydrogen bonding between the bases of two antiparallel polynucleotide chains. Overall, the DNA
structure looks similar to a twisted ladder.
Explore more- Difference Between DNA and RNA

Lipids
Lipids are organic substances that are insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents, are related to fatty acids
and are utilized by the living cell. They include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins, mono-, di- or
triglycerides, phospholipids, etc. Unlike carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids, lipids are not polymeric
molecules. Lipids play a great role in the cellular structure and are the chief source of energy.
Explore more about  Lipids

PROCESS QUESTIONS:
1. What are the four biomolecules that are essential for all living things ? Make a brief description for each.

2. How are protein related to nuclei acid –rich foods ?

3. Carbohydrates provide fuel for the body. But according to experts, one should limit the intake of
carbohydrates, Why is this so ?

4. Why do you think marathon runners eat a meal rich in carbohydrates the day before the race ?

Activity 1: Expound the phrase, “ You are what you eat.”

Activity 2: Create a 100-word essay titled, “ The Molecules of Life.” The essay should give emphasis on
the structure, composition, and importance of the four biomolecules to the cell’s bodily functions.

Activity 3: Food Label

Select one food label from the food that you consumed for the day. Inspect the food label. What is the food you
ate made up of ? Write this down. Why do you think we eat those food ? Use the space below for your answer.
Paste the food label here. What is the food you ate made up of ?

Why do you think we eat those food ?

PERFORMANCE TASK:
1. Create a menu that will promote a healthy diet.

2. Pat is a 25 year old high school teacher who has been dieting since the age of 15. At a party, a fellow teacher
told her about the amazing results that she was having with the latest high-energy, high-fast, and low-
carbohydrate diet. Pat, totally desperate with her weight, decided to try this new diet plan. After two and a half
weeks, pat lost 2.82 kg and decided to continue with the diet plan. One month later she suddenly felt weak and
dizzy. If you were in Pat’s situation, select the best things that you would do. Explain your choice.
A. Discontinue the diet plan.
B. Confront your colleague.
C. Visit your doctor immediately.
D. Let the incident pass.

GLOSSARY

Adenine A purine base found in DNA and RNA.

Amino acid One of the monomeric units of a protein molecule.
Biotin A small protein with a strong affinity for streptavidin, used as a label on DNA and other molecules, for
example as an aid to purification.
Carbohydrates The group of biomolecules comprising sugars and their derivatives.
Codon A triplet of nucleotides coding for a single amino acid.
Disaccharide A sugar comprising two linked monosaccharide units.

DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid, one of the two forms of nucleic acid in living cells; the genetic material for all
cellular life forms and many viruses.
Fatty acid A type of lipid that is a carboxylic acid whose R group is a long-chain hydrocarbon.
Lipids A broad group of hydrophobic compounds that include the fats, oils, waxes, steroids, and various resins.
Monosaccharide The monomeric unit of a polysaccharide, such as glucose.
Nucleic acid The term first used to describe the acidic chemical compound isolated from the nuclei of
eukaryotic cells. Now used specifically to describe a polymeric molecule comprising nucleotide monomers,
such as DNA and RNA.
Nucleosome The complex of histones and DNA that is the basic structural unit in chromatin.
Nucleotide A purine or pyrimidine base attached to a five-carbon sugar, to which a monophosphate,
diphosphate, or triphosphate is also attached. The monomeric unit of DNA and RNA.
A nucleotide that is the most important molecule for capturing and transferring free energy in cells. 
Protein The polymeric compound made of amino acid monomers.
Ribonucleic acid One of the two forms of nucleic acid in living cells; the genetic material for some viruses.
A nucleotide that is the most important molecule for capturing and transferring free energy in cells. 
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) The RNA molecules that are components of ribosomes. Ribosome One of the
protein–RNA assemblies on which translation occurs.
RNA Ribonucleic acid, one of the two forms of nucleic acid in living cells; the genetic material for some
viruses.
Thymine One of the pyrimidine bases found in DNA.

REFERENCE
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https://www.britannica.com/science/biomolecule
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO244P1e9QM
https://www.wlwv.k12.or.us/cms/lib8/OR01001812/Centricity/Domain/
1341BiomoleculeReviewWorksheet.pdf
https://study.com/academy/lesson/major-elements-in-biological-molecules-proteins-nucleic-acids-
carbohydrates-lipids.html