Lesson · S.2.4
The four biological macromolecules
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids: what each one is built from and what job it does in the body.
ObjectiveS.2.4Read2 minExam weightBiology ≈ 20% of Science
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- Match each of the four macromolecules to its building block.
- Explain the job each macromolecule performs in the body.
- Connect a protein's shape to its function.
What the lesson concludes
- Carbohydrates (sugars) supply quick energy; their building block is the monosaccharide.
- Lipids (fats, oils, phospholipids) store long-term energy and form cell membranes.
- Proteins are chains of amino acids whose folded shape determines their job.
- Nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, store and carry genetic information.
- Match each macromolecule to its building block first, then to its job.