Biology · Unit 5
Biology Unit 5: Molecules of Life
7 topics · Start with Monomers and Polymers
Unit 5 looks at the four kinds of large molecules that make up living things. You will see how small building blocks join into carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, how a protein’s shape lets it work, how enzymes speed up the reactions of life, and how cells store and use energy as ATP.
Study Tips for Unit 5
- Connect structure to function every time: say what the molecule is made of, what shape it has, and what job that shape allows.
- Learn the pattern once. Building a large molecule removes water (dehydration synthesis), and breaking it down adds water (hydrolysis).
- For graphs, name the variable on each axis, quote numbers with units, and say what the pattern shows. For enzyme graphs, look for the peak (the optimum) and explain what happens on either side of it.
Unit 5 Study Guide
A printable review of all 7 topics, with an answer key, is coming soon. Until then, use the practice worksheet at the end of each lesson.