7 Characteristics of Living Things
ALL living things have these 7
characteristics in common.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Made of cells
Grow and develop
Obtain and use energy
Based on a universal genetic code
Reproduce
Respond to their environment (homeostasis)
Change over time (evolution)
Remember!
In order for something to
be living, it must have ALL
7 of these characteristics.
Introduction to Biomolecules
• You just learned that all living things are made
up of cells and share a universal genetic code.
• Because of this, all living things contain the
same 4 macromolcules.
Words to Know
Your Task
Bio: living
Macro: large
Molecules: a group of atoms
of various elements held
together by chemical bonds
On the same piece
of paper, answer
the prompt on the
following slide.
What title would you give to each group of
food? Explain your answer.
A
C
B
D
4 Biomolecules
(a.k.a. macromolecules)
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic Acids
Why do we eat food?
• Living things eat food to obtain energy and to
grow.
• In order to grow, living things must constantly
produce new cells.
• So where do living things get the necessary
components to make these new cells?
You Guessed It!
Summarize the information below in the box
labeled “Scientific Explanation.”
– As we eat food that was once living, our
bodies use the biomolecules that are found in
cells of the foods we eat to make new cells.
Circle the Cells
Circle the following items in your booklet.
All of the circled items contain cells because they were once
living or came from something that was living.
Biomolecules & Their Functions
While there are MANY functions of each
biomolecule, we are going to focus only on the
MAIN functions for now, especially how they
pertain to the digestive and muscular systems.
Biomolecules & Their Functions
Long term energy (stored energy), insulation
Quick form of energy
Structural support (muscles, hair, nails)
Codes for DNA and RNA (genetic material)
Let’s Analyze a Food Label Together
• Serving Size
• # of servings per container
• Calories
What is a calorie anyway?
A unit of energy
1 lb of body weight is equal to
about 3500 calories.
Let’s Highlight Some Things
•
•
•
•
Calories
Carbohydrates
Protein
Fat
Calories vs. Grams
Why is it so important to look at entire food label
and not just the number of calories?
Write your response next to the words “I think…”
Reality: It is important
to analyze the entire
food label to determine
which biomolecules are
donating the majority of
the calories.
Calories in a Gram
• 1 g. of carbs = ~ 4 cal.
• 1 g. of protein = ~4 cal.
• 1 g. of fat = ~ 9 cal.
Because carbs serve as your short-term energy source, you
want more carbs than anything else. Consuming excess fat
(stored energy) leads to weight gain and disease.
Levels of Organization
• Think about the smallest thing
you observed?
• Then, think about what that
thing made up, and so on and
so forth.
• We will be starting off the year
by looking at the smallest Levels
of Organization and will work
our way up throughout the year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al5iZ0Xk94o
Elements
Molecules
Organelles
Cells
Tissues
Organs
Organ Systems
Organism
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biosphere
Elements
What is this a picture of?
What does it show us?
Elements in the Biomolecules
You can identify a biomolecule based on the
elements found in each molecule.
C
C
C
C
Elements
H O
H O
H O N
H O N P
Biomolecule
Lipids
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Nucleic Acids
Pneumonic
Like
Cocoa
Puffs?
Nahhh
If BOTH lipids and carbs have C, H, and O, how can
you tell whether the molecule is a carb or a lipid?
It’s All About the Ratios
• Carbs are always
found in a 1:2:1
C:H:O ratio.
• This means that
there is twice the
number of H as
there is C and O.
• Lipids are not
found in this
ratio.
4 8 4
1:2:1
Carb
5 10 5
1:2:1
Carb
6 12 2
3:6:1
Lipid
Nucleic Acid
For each picture, write the following 3 things on
your whiteboard.
1. Elements
2. Biomolecule
3. Function
Carbohydrate
1. Elements
2. Biomolecule
3. Function
Lipids
1. Elements
2. Biomolecule
3. Function
Protein
1. Elements
2. Biomolecule
3. Function
Monomers Make Up Polymers
• Monomers are small molecules that serve as
the building blocks for polymers.
• Polymers are large molecules made up of
repeating subunits called monomers.
Structure of Polymers
Monomer/Polymer & Biomolecules
What does this have to do with biomoleculels?
• Biomolecules are polymers.
• Each one is composed of specific building
blocks, or monomers.
• When hundreds of these building blocks are
put together the polymer, or biomolecule is
formed.
Building the Biomolecules
With your partner, you will rotate around the
room to the colored papers on the wall.
Your task is to determine the monomers that
make up the biomoleucles by analyzing the
pictures.
Fill in this information in the chart in your notes.
Let’s Check Our Answers
The monomer of proteins are amino acids.
Molecule #3
Polypeptide
Chain
Molecule #6
Amino Acids
Let’s Check Our Answers
The monomer of carbohydrates (polysaccharides)
are monosaccharides (sugars).
Molecule #5
Monosaccharide
Molecule #1
Let’s Check Our Answers
The monomer of nucleic acids (DNA & RNA) are
nucleotides.
Molecule #4
What about Lipids?
• You may have noticed that you were
not asked to analyze lipids.
• This is because lipids ARE NOT
considered a polymer, because they
DO NOT have true monomers.
• Lipids are made up of a glycerol head
and fatty acids tails.
• Because these are not the same
component, lipids do not have true
monomers, therefore, they are not
considered polymers.
Molecule #2