Identify true statements regarding polymers. Check All That Apply Glucose is an excellent example of a polymer vital to the human body. A protein is a polymer of amino acids, and is one of the most versatile molecules in the body. Starch is a polymer of about 3,000 glucose monomers and provides a tremendous source of fuel to the body. DNA is a polymer made of 3 different kinds of monomers called nucleotides, and stores our genetic information.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
Correct Answer:
- A protein is a polymer of amino acids, and is one of the most versatile molecules in the body.
- Starch is a polymer of about 3,000 glucose monomers and provides a tremendous source of fuel to the body.
Explanation:
Polymers are large molecules composed of repeating structural units called monomers. These macromolecules are essential to biological processes and play diverse roles in living organisms. Here’s an analysis of the statements:
- “Glucose is an excellent example of a polymer vital to the human body.”
False. Glucose is a monomer, not a polymer. It serves as a fundamental energy source for the body and is a building block for polysaccharides like starch and glycogen, which are polymers of glucose. - “A protein is a polymer of amino acids, and is one of the most versatile molecules in the body.”
True. Proteins are indeed polymers made of amino acid monomers linked by peptide bonds. They are incredibly versatile, serving as enzymes, hormones, structural components, and transporters, among other functions. - “Starch is a polymer of about 3,000 glucose monomers and provides a tremendous source of fuel to the body.”
True. Starch is a polysaccharide composed of glucose units. It serves as an energy reserve in plants and is broken down by enzymes in the human digestive system to release glucose, a primary energy source. - “DNA is a polymer made of 3 different kinds of monomers called nucleotides, and stores our genetic information.”
False. DNA is a polymer, but it is composed of 4 kinds of nucleotides (adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine). These nucleotides are the monomers that encode genetic information in the sequence of their bases.
Polymers such as proteins, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids are fundamental to life, with diverse roles ranging from energy storage to information transfer and catalysis. Understanding their structures and functions is vital to grasping biological systems.