Big Picture LS1.A: Structure and Function All living things are made up of cells, which is the smallest unit that can be said to be alive. An organism may consist of one single cell (unicellular) or many different numbers and types of cells (multicellular).

Do Now What do you think your mass would be if there were no water in your body? What else besides water is your body composed of? Where do you think you get the minerals that make up your body mass? Record your answers in your science journal.

Objectives  Describe the chemical building blocks of cells.

Learning Target  Today I will: Learn about the four building blocks of cell.  So that I can: Apply that knowledge to the structure and function of cells.  I will know if I got it if: I can clearly explain the properties of each of the four building blocks of cells. Agenda Today we will: Watch a video on molecules Take notes. Complete center activities. Review and exit ticket. Vocabulary protein carbohydrate lipid ATP nucleic acid Jan. 7-8, 2015

Video 

The Necessities of Life  Water Your cells and the cells of almost all living organisms are approximately 70% water. Most of the chemical reactions involved in metabolism require water.  Air Air is a mixture of several different gases, including oxygen and carbon dioxide. Most living things use oxygen in the chemical process that releases energy from food.

The Necessities of Life A Place to Live All organisms need a place to live that contains all of the things they need to survive. Space on Earth is limited, so organisms are often in competition with each other. Food All living things need food. Food gives organism energy and the raw material needed to carry on life processes.

Food, continued Making Food Some organisms, such as plants, are called producers. Producers can make their own food by using energy from their surroundings. Taking Food Other organisms are called consumers because they must eat (consume) other organisms to get food. Decomposers are consumers that get their food by breaking down the nutrients in dead organisms or animal wastes.

Putting It All Together All organisms need to break down that food in order to use the nutrients in it. Nutrients are made up of molecules. Molecules found in living things are usually made up of six elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur.

Proteins Proteins are large molecules made up of amino acids. Making Proteins Organisms break down the proteins in food to supply their cells with amino acids that are then linked together to form new proteins. Proteins in Action Some proteins form structures that are easy to see. Other proteins help cells do their jobs. Proteins called enzymes start or speed up chemical reactions in cells.

Carbohydrates Molecules made of sugars are called carbohydrates. Simple Carbohydrates Simple carbohydrates are made up of one sugar molecule or a few sugar molecules linked together. Complex Carbohydrates Complex carbohydrates are made of hundreds of sugar molecules linked together. Organisms store extra sugar as complex carbohydrates.

Lipids Lipids are compounds that cannot mix with water. Phospholipids are the molecules that form much of the cell membrane. Fats and Oils Fats and oils are lipids that store energy. When an organism has used up most of its carbohydrates, it can get energy from these lipids.

ATP Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, is the major energy-carrying molecule in cells. The energy in carbohydrates and lipids must first be transferred to ATP, which then provides fuel for cellular activities.

Nucleic Acids Nucleic acids are large molecules made up of subunits called nucleotides. Nucleic acids are sometimes called the blueprints of life because they have all the information needed for a cell to make proteins. DNA is a nucleic acid.

Exit Ticket  What are the four molecules necessary for life?