The Building Blocks of

In your table groups make as many observations as you can about the diagram on the left.

Biomolecule Cards Biomolecule Look at the biomolecule description cards in the envelope at your lab table and without using your notes, do your best to group them using the characteristics on the cards

Everything – whether it’s a Everything – whether it’s a rock, frog or a flower is made rock, frog or a flower is made up of substances called up of substances called elements. elements. Those are Those are the things the things that we found in the periodic table. that we found in the periodic table.

Of the naturally occurring elements on earth, only about 25% are essential to living organisms. In fact, only four of the elements Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen & Nitrogen together make up more than 96% of the mass of a human body.

Without these compounds, cells could not function. Organic compounds contain carbon atoms. There are four principal classes of organic compounds found in all living things:

What chemical elements make up these molecules? What chemical elements make up these molecules? They are made up of building blocks called They are made up of building blocks called monomers, but what are they? monomers, but what are they? What are some examples of these biomolecules? What are some examples of these biomolecules? What is their function? What is their function?

 Last week we researched these biomolecules and and record our findings in our notebooks Biomolecule Elements its made from: Monomers (building blocks): Examples: Functions: Chemical structure: Biomolecule Elements its made from: Monomers (building blocks): Examples: Functions: Chemical structure:

Carbohydrates Elements its made from: Monomers (building blocks): Examples: Functions: Chemical structure: C, H, O Monosaccharides sugars, starches, glycogen, cellulose main source of energy for cells

Lipids Elements its made from: Monomers (building blocks): Examples: Functions: Chemical structure: C, H, O Fatty Acids & Glycerol Fats, oils, waxes, steroids Long term energy storage, major component of cell membrane

Proteins Elements its made from: Monomers (building blocks): Examples: Functions: Chemical structure: C, H, O, N Amino Acids Muscles & enzymes Structure, regulates cellular processes & chemical reactions

Nucleic Acids Elements its made from: Monomers (building blocks): Examples: Functions: Chemical structure: C, H, O, N, P Nucleotides DNA & RNA Stores and transfers genetic information

Biomolecule Cards Biomolecule Now return to your lab groups and check your findings. Are there any changes you want to make?

We use bridge maps like the one below to show relationships between concepts Birds Nests Bears Caves

Bricks Polymers

We use knowledge of biomolecules and their building blocks to complete the multi-bridge map above. Monomer