4.1.2

Larger Molecules

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Larger Molecules

Large carbohydrate, protein and lipid molecules are made up of many smaller units. The way that these units are arranged affects the structure and function of these larger molecules.

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Carbohydrates

  • Glucose is a small carbohydrate (a sugar).
  • Cellulose (the substance that gives structure to plant cell walls) is also made up of glucose.
  • Starch (a store of energy in plants) is made up of glucose units.
  • Glycogen (a store of energy in animals) is made up of glucose.
  • Glucose units are arranged differently to make these different molecules.
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Proteins

  • Proteins are made out of units called amino acids.
  • There are different amino acids, and the order of amino acids affects the shape of the protein molecules, which affects its structure and function.
  • Enzymes and antibodies are two types of protein that have 'active sites'. These are areas of the protein that have to be a specific shape for the protein to function properly.
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Lipids

  • Lipids are made up of two units: molecules called fatty acids and a molecule called glycerol.
  • The number of and type fatty acids in the lipid determines its structure.

Jump to other topics

1Classification of Living Organisms

2Organisation of the Organism

3Movement Into & Out of Cells

4Biological Molecules

5Enzymes

6Plant Nutrition

7Human Nutrition

8Transport in Plants

9Transport in Animals

10Diseases & Immunity

11Gas Exchange in Humans

12Respiration

13Excretion in Humans

14Coordination & Response

15Drugs

16Reproduction

17Inheritance

18Variation & Selection

19Organisms & Their Environment

20Human Influence on Ecosystems

21Biotechnology & Genetic Modification

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