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Biochemistry
The Bio-Macromolecules we will look at are polymers (poly = many; mer = subunit). They are composed of a subunit bonded to a subunit bonded to a subunit ....on and on and on. The number of subunits in these macromolecules ranges from ten or twenty up to billions for the Nucleic Acids.
Almost all of the molecules that make up your body are polymers, chains of subunits. There are four fundamental types of Bio-macromolecules. Each type of macromolecule is a polymer composed of a different type of subunit. Identifying the type of macromolecule by their subunit composition is a technique you want to become familiar with. Once we understand the chemocal properties of the subunits we are well on our way to understanding the chemical properties of Bio-molecules.
The
subunits of the macromolecules we will examine are covalently-bonded.
The covalent bonds between the subunits are always formed by a type of
reaction called 
Dehydration
Synthesis (making something while losing water).
During dehydration
synthesis, a water molecule is lost, electrons are rearranged, and a new
bond is formed between the subunits.This same tyoe of reaction is used
to join the subunits of each of types of large molecules (macromolecules)
that make organisms what they are. The structure of each type of macromolecules
is what determines how the molecules function in our bodies. Remember
to concentrate on how structure and function are related as you examine
the composition of these molecules in the following pages.
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In Bio 113, we examine four types of Macromolecules. |
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The first group
that we examine is the Carbohydrates.
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On to the first class of macromolecules; the
Carbohydrates 