SC15.BIO.1

Science (2015) Grade(s): 09-12 - Biology

SC15.BIO.1
Use models to compare and contrast how the structural characteristics of carbohydrates, nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids define their function in organisms.

Unpacked Content

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Developing and Using Models

Crosscutting Concepts

Structure and Function

Knowledge

Students know:

An atom is composed of smaller particles, such as protons, neutrons and electrons.
Atoms of the same or different elements can form chemical bonds. The type of bond formed, such as covalent, ionic, or hydrogen, depends on the atomic structure of the element. Carbohydrates, Lipids, proteins and nucleic acids are the four macromolecules that compose life.
Carbohydrates are composed of a monomer of one carbon, 2 hydrogen and one oxygen atoms (CH₂O). The role of carbohydrates in biological processes such as photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
The role of lipids in biological processes such as cell membrane function and energy storage.
The basic structure of a lipid includes fatty acid tails composed of a chain of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen and other carbon atoms by single or double bonds.
Proteins are made of amino acids, which are small compounds that are made of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen hydrogen and sometimes sulfur. The structure of an amino acid consists of a carbon atom in the center which is bonded with a hydrogen, an amino group, a carboxyl group and a variable group—its that variable group that makes each amino acid different.
The roles of proteins in biological processes such as enzyme function or structural functionality.
Nucleic acids are made of smaller repeating subuntits composed of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and hydrogen atoms, called nucleotides.
There are six major nucleotides—all of which have three units—a phosphate, a nitrogenous base, and a ribose sugar. The role of nucleic acids in biological processes such as transmission of hereditary information.

Skills

Students are able to:

Describe the particles that compose an atom.
Relate atomic particles to types of chemical bonding such as covalent, ionic and hydrogen.
Describe Van der Waals forces.
Identify patterns in the elements that compose each macromolecule.
Identify the arrangement of monomer units in carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids.
Differentiate macromolecules based on common characteristics.
Construct models of the four major macromolecules.
Analyze models of the four major biomolecules to identify the monomer unit that repeats across the macromolecule polymer and relate molecular structure to biological function.

Understanding

Students understand that:

Cells are made of atoms.
The four macromolecules that compose life are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins.
Macromolecules contain distinct patterns of monomer subunits that repeat across the macromolecule polymer and that structure affects the biological function of the macromolecule.