BIOCHEMISTRY
" The Molecules of Life"

Craig Miller - Skyline High School, Oakland, Ca

This Curriculum Web is designed for High School Biology
students who need extra help in reviewing and/or learning
the Chemistry component of Biology Science.

Students should click on the Biomolecules in the diagram below for introductory animations,
then complete the three assignments in order;
using the glossary as needed,
finally using the external resource links for further exploration.

INTRODUCTORY ANIMATIONS

FIRST, click here to see how large Biomolecules are built (a.k.a. "condensation" or "dehydration synthesis")
& broken down (a.k.a. "digestion" or "hydrolysis").

NEXTLY, click on any image below to view how each molecule is structured.
(NOTE: Depending upon your connection speed, you may have to wait a few moments)

THINKING Questions:
a) Carbohydrate-Why is water essential for digestion?
b) Proteins-What might happen if the wrong amino acid is substituted?
c) Nucleic Acids-What is the "complimentary base pair rule"?
d) Lipids-Which end is the head, and which end are the tails?
e) Bonus-Which one of these four Biomolecules is unrelated to nutrition?

Viewing KEY:
a) Carbohydrate-First condensation, then hydrolysis.
b) Proteins-The topmost amino acids link together to make a protein.
c) Nucleic Acids-First split apart and then are rebuilt using a letter combination rule.
d) Lipids (Fats)-Water liking heads are attached to water fearing tails.