Food provides the body with the nutrients it needs to survive.

Many of these critical nutrients are biological macromolecules, or large molecules, necessary for life. These macromolecules (polymers) are built from
different combinations of smaller organic molecules (monomers). Formation of Water and polymers is due to dehydration synthesis. During the breakdown of polymers, hydrolysis takes place. What specific types of
biological macromolecules do living things require? What functions do they serve? In this chapter, these questions will be explored.
Biological macromolecules are large molecules, necessary for life, that are built from smaller organic molecules. Biological macromolecules are organic because they contain carbon. There are four major classes of
biological macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids); each is an important cell component and performs a wide array of functions. Combined, these molecules make up the majority of a cell’s
dry mass (recall that water makes up the majority of its complete mass). When studying biomolecules, one can understand the physiological function that regulates the proper growth and development of a human
body. Biomolecules are important for the functioning of living organisms.
 
Carbohydrates are, in fact, an essential part of our diet; grains, fruits, and vegetables are all natural sources of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide energy to the body, particularly through glucose, a simple sugar
that is a component of starch and an ingredient in many staple foods. Carbohydrates also have other important functions in humans, animals, and plants. Simple carbohydrates have one or two sugar molecules.
Simple Carbohydrates include Monosaccharides, Disaccharides and Oligosaccharides. Glucose is an example of a carbohydrate monomer or monosaccharide. Other examples of monosaccharides include mannose,
galactose, fructose, etc. Examples of carbohydrates having two monomers include- Sucrose, Lactose, Maltose, etc. Lactose is a disaccharide formed by the formation of a glycosidic bond between glucose and
galactose. In simple carbohydrates, molecules are digested and converted quickly resulting in a rise in the blood sugar levels. They are abundantly found in milk products, beer, fruits, refined sugars, candies, etc.
Complex carbohydrates have two or more sugar molecules, hence they are referred to as starchy foods. In complex carbohydrates, molecules are digested and converted slowly compared to simple carbohydrates.
They are abundantly found in lentils, beans, peanuts, potatoes, peas, corn, whole-grain bread, cereals, etc. Examples of polysaccharides include starch, glycogen, cellulose, etc. Glycogen and starch are also both
polysaccharides. Cellulose, abundant in plant cell wall, as is starch, is also carbohydrate.
 
Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon–carbon or carbon–hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules
are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment
for plants and animals. Saturated fats (lipids) are solid at room temperature, have single bonds within the carbon chain and are usually obtained from animal sources. A phospholipid is a type of lipid molecule that is
the main component of the plasma membrane of animal cells. Fat serves as a valuable way for animals to store energy. Waxes can protect plant leaves and mammalian fur from getting wet. Phospholipids and steroids
are important components of animal cell membranes, as well as plant, fungal, and bacterial membranes. Trans fats are created artificially when hydrogen gas is bubbled through oils to solidify them. The double bonds
of the cis conformation in the hydrocarbon chain may be converted to double bonds in the trans configuration. Some restaurants are banning trans fats because they cause higher levels of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol.
 
 
Proteins are one of the most abundant organic molecules in living systems and have the most diverse range of functions of all macromolecules. Amino acids are the monomers that makeup proteins. Specifically, a
protein is made up of one or more linear chains of amino acids, each of which is called a polypeptide. Each cell in a living system may contain thousands of proteins, each with a unique function. The protein content
of animal organs is usually much higher than that of the blood plasma. Muscles, for example, contain about 30 percent protein, the liver 20 to 30 percent, and red blood cells 30 percent. Higher percentages of protein
are found in hair, bones, and other organs and tissues with a low water content. Foods that contain protein are as follows:
lean meats – beef, lamb, veal, pork, kangaroo.
poultry – chicken, turkey, duck, emu, goose, bush birds.
fish and seafood – fish, prawns, crab, lobster, mussels, oysters, scallops, clams.eggs.
dairy products – milk, yoghurt (especially Greek yoghurt), cheese (especially cottage cheese)
 
Nucleic acids are the most important macromolecules for the continuity of life. The two main classes of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). Nucleic acids carry the genetic
blueprint of a cell, DNA, and carry instructions for the functioning of the cell. DNA has a double-helix structure while RNA is usually single-stranded structure. The four types of RNA are messenger RNA, ribosomal
RNA, transfer RNA, and microRNA. Messenger RNA carries the information from the DNA that controls all cellular activities. The mRNA binds to the ribosomes that are constructed of proteins and rRNA, and tRNA
transfers the correct amino acid to the site of protein synthesis. microRNA regulates the availability of mRNA for translation.
Biological macromolecules are large molecules, necessary for
life, that are built from smaller organic molecules. Biological
macromolecules are organic because they contain carbon. There
are four major classes of biological macromolecules
(carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids); each is an
important cell component and performs a wide array of functions.
Combined, these molecules make up the majority of a cell’s dry
mass (recall that water makes up the majority of its complete
mass). When studying biomolecules, one can understand the
physiological function that regulates the proper growth and
development of a human body. Biomolecules are important for
the functioning of living organisms.
 
Carbohydrates are, in fact, an essential part of our diet; grains, fruits,
and vegetables are all natural sources of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates
provide energy to the body, particularly through glucose, a simple
sugar that is a component of starch and an ingredient in many staple
foods. Carbohydrates also have other important functions in humans,
animals, and plants. Simple carbohydrates have one or two sugar
molecules. Simple Carbohydrates include Monosaccharides,
Disaccharides and Oligosaccharides. Glucose is an example of a
carbohydrate monomer or monosaccharide. Other examples of
monosaccharides include mannose, galactose, fructose, etc. Examples
of carbohydrates having two monomers include- Sucrose, Lactose,
Maltose, etc.