UNIT 2
The Biomolecules
Unit Outline
IB Roadmap: A1, B1
Unity and Diversity
Common ancestry has given living organisms many shared features while evolution has resulted in the rich biodiversity of life on Earth.
Form & Function (B)
Adaptations are forms that correspond to function. These adaptations persist from generation to generation because they increase the chances of survival.
Syllabus Statements
A1.1.1 Water as medium of life.
A1.1.2 Hydrogen bonds as a consequence of the polar covalent bonds within water molecules
A1.1.3 Cohesion of water molecules due to hydrogen bonding and consequences for organisms
A1.1.4 Adhesion of water to materials that are polar or charged and impacts for organisms
A1.1.5 Solvent properties of water linked to its role as a medium for metabolism and for transport in plants and animals
A1.1.6 Physical properties of water and the consequences for animals in aquatic habitats
B1.1.1 Chemical properties of a carbon atom allowing for the formation of diverse compounds upon which life is based
B1.1.2 Production of macromolecules by condensation reactions that link monomers to form a polymer.
B1.1.3 Digestion of polymers into monomers by hydrolysis reactions.
B1.1.4 Form and function of monosaccharides.
B1.1.5 Polysaccharides as energy storage compounds.
B1.1.6 Structure of cellulose related to its function as a structural polysaccharide in plants.
B1.1.8 Hydrophobic properties of lipids
B1.1.9 Formation of triglycerides and phospholipids by condensation reactions
B1.1.10 Difference between saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids
B1.1.11 Triglycerides in adipose tissues for energy storage and thermal insulation
B1.1.12 Formation of phospholipid bilayers as a consequence of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions
B1.1.13 Ability of non-polar steroids to pass through the phospholipid bilayer