Essential Knowledge 4A1
Question 3
Question 3
Question
Use a model to predict and justify the changes in the subcomponents of a biological polymer affect the functionality of the molecule.
Biological Polymers
There are 5 different biological polymers which are: proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and the nucleic acids, DNA and RNA. Each of these molecules has subcomponents that help them function correctly.
Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA
The nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, are made up of nucleotides which are composed of a five carbon sugar (deoxyribose or ribose), a phosphate group, and the nitrogen bases. DNA has a double helix whose backbone is made up of deoxyribose and a phosphate group. In between the two strands, the nitrogen bases (adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine) can be found. DNA holds all of an organism's genetic information and is constantly being replicated. If there were a change in the nucleotide, then a mutation would occur. The structure of RNA is similar to that of DNA, however, there is a difference in its nitrogen bases where thymine is replaced with uracil. RNA is also single stranded while DNA has two strands. RNA plays an important part in the production of proteins since it carries the genetic information to the ribosomes so if the nucleotides were to change, the information that the RNA holds would be altered and that could produce problems in the function of proteins.
Proteins
There are various types proteins which have many different functions such as transporting, substances or defending against diseases. These proteins are made up of amino acids which have specific sequences that choose the protein's shape and its function. Since there are many different structures for amino acids, they can produce different types of proteins. If there were ever a change in the amino acids, then a mutation could occur and completely change the protein that is being produced. The protein would interact with other proteins differently, function differently, and be shaped differently.
Lipids
Lipids are fats, oils, waxes, and steroids in your body that function in order to store energy and perform other functions. Lipids are made up of fatty acids and glycerol whose structures determine the function of the lipid. Differences in saturation can also determine the function of a lipid in nonpolar regions. Although lipids are normally nonpolar, there are lipids, phospholipids, that have polar regions. 
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates help give organism's energy. They are made up of sugar monomers, monosaccharides, that bond together through dehydration synthesis to form bigger molecules such as disaccharide and polysaccharide. The bonding of monosaccharides through dehydration synthesis is what determines that function of the molecules.
Work Cited
"The Subcomponents of Biological Molecules and Their Sequence Determine the Properties of the Molecule." Powered by Shanghai American School. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
"Lipids." Biomolecules. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
"Lipids." HyperPhysics. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
"Protein Structure." Particle Sciences. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
"Nucleotides and Bases." Genetics Generation. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2017.
