In your own words discuss the following 1a In what ways are

In your own words discuss the following:
1a. In what ways are macromolecules essential to life?
1b. Describe the structures of four and describe their major roles in organisms?

2a. Briefly explain the overall processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration?
2b. Also include a brief explanation of autotrophs and heterotrophs?

Solution

1a. Macromolecules are large molecules that serve as a source of energy, form the basic structure of the organism and also carries the genetic information of the organism.

1b.proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids are the four macromolecules

proteins structure

primary

they are chains of aminoacids

secondary

these aminoacids can assume a folded confirmation to form a alpha helix or a beta pleated sheet structure

this depepnds on the hydrogen bnding and electrostatic interactions between adjascent aminoacids in the polymer

tirtiary

A protein on a whole can have many secondary structures which depends on the length of the protein and also on the nature of aminoacids present in them.

For example when a protein has 2 alpha helix, the two helices are connected through disulfide bridge or electrostatic force or even a small beta pleated sheet

this forms the secondary structure

Quarternary structure

to achieve the function of the proteins it has to be folded in the correct conformation which is achieved in the quarternary structure.

Carbohydrate

it is basically a hydrocarbon

hydrogen bonding between sugar molecules will result in formation of a chain of sugar called carbohydrates or polysaccharides

the sugars in the carbohydrate chain can be a simple carbon chain, a 5 carbon ring structure (pentose) or a six carbon ring structure.

lipids:

they are also hydrocarbon chains however they will have a carboxyl group attached to the main carbon.

nucleic acids:

they areof 2 forms DNA and RNA they have a sugar in the backbone

deoxyribose sugar in DNA and ribose sugar in RNA they have 4 bases that are bound to the sugar backbone through phosphate bonding

DNA adenin,e guaninie, cytosine, thymine

RNA thymine replaced with Uracil

DNA double stranded with the two strands bound with hydrogen bonding between the bases A_T and G_C

Proteins are essential as receptors in cells, structure on membrane, antigen on bacteria and is the major body building macromolecule

Lipids are very rich source of energy so the body in general stores them for future use and uses them under conditions of starving. lipids also have structural role.

Carbohydrates are major source of energy and are mostly metabolised to provide ATP for the bodies function

2a. photosynnthesis is a process of fixing atmospheric CO2 into sugar molecule that is powered by sunlight.

It uses CO2 and releases oxygen while respiration uses oxygen and releases CO2

Energy is utilised in the process of photosynthesis and the generated sugars are further broken down to meet the energy needs of the organism.

2b autotrophs are those which can generate their own energy like plants and hterotrophs depend on other organisms for their nutrition.

autotrophs are photosynthetic plants blue green algaes etc which fix CO2 to make their own sugars