This module invites students to travel into the biological world of very large macromolecules, whose size and shape are critical for their ability to perform specific biological functions. Students will learn how small molecules form into polymer chains that can be thousands and even millions of atoms long. These long chains fold into very complex shapes and become components of cell walls or parts of cellular machines that do specific jobs in the cell.
Activity 1. From the Tree of Life to Macromolecules (HTML l PDF)
Students discover the four basic groups of macromolecules that are life's building blocks: sugars, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.Activity 2. Joining Molecules Together to Make Macromolecules (HTML l PDF)
Students discover how monomers are assembled into polymers.Activity 3. Building Up Diversity: Assembling Polymers into Cellular Structures Using Charges (HTML l PDF)
Students explore forces pulling polymers into molecular assemblies,