7. Macromolecules + Lab

  Today we learned about macromolecules. The reactions that join molecules with release of water is called a condensation reaction, and the polymerization (monomers join to make polymer) of a molecule is known as a condensation reaction. For water, the OH- comes from one monomer and H+ comes from another. In contrast, a depolymerization is when water molecules react with polymer to release monomers, so it is called a hydrolysis reaction. This is used when cells break down damaged or useless polymers.
  The monosaccharide structure are the basic unit in carbohydrates. A few examples of monosaccharides are glucose, galactose and fructose. The disaccharide formation is when two monosaccharides undergo a condensation reaction. There are two examples:
  Glucose + Fructose = Sucrose
  Glucose + Glucose = Maltose
  Glucose + Galactose = Lactose
  Also, there are polysacchrides, which are long chains of sugar units. Some of the examples are starch, glycogen, cellulose and chitin. The plant storage product is starch, and the animal storage product is glycogen. The plant structural product is cellulose and the animal structural product is chitin.

  We also learned that protein is made of amino acids. Some examples of amino acids are leucine (hydrophobic), serine and cysteine (hydrophilic). Also, we learned that RNA (ribonucleic acid) helps form proteins from DNA (deoxy-nucleic acids).
  Finally, we did a lab today on indicating protein, fat, starch and glucose in different substances.The indicators we used are biurets, benedict's solution, sudan III, and iodine.

-Andy Liu '15