Organic Molecules

“Organic” is a tricky word. If you read the labels in the grocery store you will see that some apples are labeled as “organic”, while some are not – and the apples with the organic label are usually more expensive!  The truth is, all apples are organic, because apples contain carbon atoms in their cells. Carbon is the basis of all life on earth, and molecules that have the element carbon are considered organic.

Organic molecules are often referred to as the building blocks of life. It is these carbon-based compounds in varying arrangements that make up all life on Earth.  There are four major classes of macromolecules:  carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.  In this topic, you will investigate the structure and function of organic molecules.

Essential Questions

• What elements are found in the cells of all living organisms?
• What are the four major classes of macromolecules?
• What are the functions of each group of macromolecules?