TEAS® Science Study Guide
Macromolecules
Living things are built from four types of large biological molecules. Each has a building block and a main job.
- Carbohydrates — Built from monosaccharides (simple sugars like glucose). Main job: quick energy. Example: starch, glucose.
- Lipids — Fats and oils. Main jobs: long-term energy storage, insulation, and forming cell membranes. They don’t dissolve in water.
- Proteins — Built from amino acids. The most versatile group: they form enzymes, build tissue, and transport substances. Example: hemoglobin.
- Nucleic acids — Built from nucleotides. Store and carry genetic information. DNA and RNA.
Enzymes are the ones to know. Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions without being used up. Each enzyme works on a specific substance (its substrate), and each works best in a narrow range of temperature and pH — push beyond it and the enzyme stops working.
Terms to know
- Monomer — A single building-block unit. Polymer — Many monomers linked together.
- Enzyme — A protein that speeds up a reaction.
- Substrate — The substance an enzyme acts on.
What the TEAS asks most
- What are proteins built from? Amino acids.
- Which macromolecule stores genetic information? Nucleic acids.
- What do enzymes do? Speed up reactions.
- Which macromolecule is the body’s quick energy source? Carbohydrates.