Test Yourself: Biological Macromolecules

After you have read this section, test yourself to see if you can answer these review questions:

  1. What designates a biological macromolecule as organic (versus inorganic)?
  2. What role do electrons play in dehydration synthesis (aka anabolism) and hydrolysis (aka catabolism)?
  3. Describe the similarities and differences between glycogen and starch.
  4. Why is it impossible for humans to digest food that contains cellulose?
  5. Explain at least three functions lipids serve in plants or animals.
  6. Why have trans fats been banned from some restaurants? How are they created?
  7. Explain what happens if even one amino acid is substituted for another in a polypeptide chain. Provide a specific example.
  8. Describe the differences in the four levels of protein structure (primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary).
  9. What are the structural differences between RNA and DNA?
  10. What are the four types of RNA, and what is the specific function of each?