Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biology2h 42m
2. Chemistry3h 37m
3. Water1h 26m
4. Biomolecules2h 23m
5. Cell Components2h 26m
6. The Membrane2h 31m
7. Energy and Metabolism2h 0m
8. Respiration2h 40m
9. Photosynthesis2h 49m
10. Cell Signaling59m
11. Cell Division2h 47m
12. Meiosis2h 0m
13. Mendelian Genetics4h 44m
14. DNA Synthesis2h 27m
15. Gene Expression3h 6m
16. Regulation of Expression3h 31m
17. Viruses37m
- Viruses
  37m
18. Biotechnology2h 58m
19. Genomics17m
- Genomes
  17m
20. Development1h 5m
21. Evolution3h 1m
22. Evolution of Populations3h 53m
23. Speciation1h 37m
24. History of Life on Earth2h 6m
25. Phylogeny2h 31m
26. Prokaryotes4h 59m
27. Protists1h 12m
28. Plants1h 22m
29. Fungi36m
- Fungi
  19m
- Fungi Reproduction
  17m
30. Overview of Animals34m
- Overview of Animals
  34m
31. Invertebrates1h 2m
32. Vertebrates50m
33. Plant Anatomy1h 3m
34. Vascular Plant Transport1h 2m
- Water Potential
  1h 2m
35. Soil37m
- Soil and Nutrients
  20m
- Nitrogen Fixation
  16m
36. Plant Reproduction47m
- Flowers
  33m
- Seeds
  14m
37. Plant Sensation and Response1h 9m
38. Animal Form and Function1h 19m
39. Digestive System1h 10m
- Digestion
  1h 3m
- Blood Sugar Homeostasis
  7m
40. Circulatory System1h 49m
41. Immune System1h 12m
42. Osmoregulation and Excretion50m
- Osmoregulation and Excretion
  50m
43. Endocrine System1h 4m
- Endocrine System
  1h 4m
44. Animal Reproduction1h 2m
- Animal Reproduction
  1h 2m
45. Nervous System1h 55m
- Neurons and Action Potentials
  1h 8m
- Central and Peripheral Nervous System
  46m
46. Sensory Systems46m
- Sensory System
  46m
47. Muscle Systems23m
- Musculoskeletal System
  23m
48. Ecology3h 11m
49. Animal Behavior28m
- Animal Behavior
  28m
50. Population Ecology3h 41m
51. Community Ecology2h 46m
52. Ecosystems2h 36m
53. Conservation Biology24m
- Conservation Biology
  24m

4. Biomolecules

Carbon

General Biology

4. Biomolecules

Carbon

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0:54 minutes

Problem 15

Textbook Question

The diversity of life is staggering. Yet the molecular logic of life is simple and elegant: small molecules common to all organisms are ordered into unique macromolecules. Explain why carbon is central to this diversity of organic molecules.
How do carbon skeletons, chemical groups, monomers, and polymers relate to this molecular logic of life?

Verified step by step guidance

Carbon is central to the diversity of organic molecules because it has four valence electrons, allowing it to form up to four covalent bonds with other atoms. This property enables carbon to act as a versatile backbone for complex molecules.

Carbon skeletons can vary in length, branching, and shape (e.g., straight chains, branched chains, or rings). These variations provide the structural framework for organic molecules and contribute to the diversity of life.

Chemical groups, such as hydroxyl (-OH), carboxyl (-COOH), amino (-NH2), and phosphate (-PO4), can attach to carbon skeletons. These groups influence the chemical properties and reactivity of organic molecules, enabling specific biological functions.

Monomers are small molecules that serve as building blocks for larger macromolecules. For example, glucose is a monomer for polysaccharides, and amino acids are monomers for proteins. Carbon's ability to form stable bonds allows these monomers to link together through processes like dehydration synthesis.

Polymers are large macromolecules formed by the repeated linking of monomers. Examples include proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides. The molecular logic of life is based on the assembly of these polymers, which are unique to each organism but built from common monomers, demonstrating the elegant simplicity of life's molecular diversity.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Carbon's Versatility

Carbon is unique due to its ability to form four covalent bonds with other atoms, allowing it to create a vast array of complex molecules. This tetravalency enables carbon to bond with various elements, including hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, leading to the formation of diverse organic compounds essential for life.

Carbon Skeletons

Carbon skeletons refer to the chain or ring structures formed by carbon atoms in organic molecules. These skeletons can vary in length and shape, influencing the properties and functions of the molecules. The arrangement of carbon skeletons is fundamental in determining the characteristics of different organic compounds.

Monomers and Polymers

Monomers are the basic building blocks of larger molecules, known as polymers. In biological systems, monomers like amino acids, nucleotides, and simple sugars combine through covalent bonds to form complex macromolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates. This process of polymerization is crucial for the structure and function of biological macromolecules.

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