Subject:
Overview: The Molecules of Life Within cells, small organic molecules are joined together to form larger molecules. These large macromolecules may consist of thousands of covalently bonded atoms and weigh more than 100,000 daltons. The four major classes of macromolecules are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Concept 5.1 Most macromolecules are polymers, built from monomers Three of the four classes of macromolecules?carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids?form chainlike molecules called polymers. A polymer is a long molecule consisting of many similar or identical building blocks linked by covalent bonds. The repeated units are small molecules called monomers. Some of the molecules that serve as monomers have other functions of their own.
