Macromolecules

This course is a part of Biology, a 31-course Topic series from Khan Academy.

There's an old saying, "You are what you eat." In some senses, this is literally true! When we eat food, we take in the large biological molecules found in the food, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids (such as fats), and nucleic acids (such as DNA), and use them to power our cells and build our bodies. Dive into the different types of macromolecules, what they are made up of, and how they are built up and broken down.

This course contains 5 segments:

Introduction to macromolecules

Learn about monomers, polymers, dehydration synthesis, and hydrolysis reactions! These will get you all set to learn more about the different types of macromolecules.

Carbohydrates

Do you have a sweet tooth? Learn more about different types of sugar molecules: their structure, their chemical behavior, and how they can combine to form chains. Starring glucose (blood sugar), sucrose (table sugar), and fructose (fruit sugar).

Lipids

Did you know that fats are beautiful little molecules with long, trailing hydrocarbon tails? Learn about the structure and function of fats and other lipids, including cholesterol and the phospholipids that make up cell membranes.

Nucleic acids

Maybe you've heard DNA discussed as the "genetic material." But what exactly is DNA, when you get right down to it? Learn more about the structure and properties of DNA and its nucleic acid cousin, RNA.

Proteins

Proteins: the amazing machines of the cell! Learn about the amino acids that proteins are made of and how they are connected by peptide bonds. Special bonus: learn how proteins get their shapes and why this so important for their function.