Lesson 2: The Chemistry of Life

Introduction

The cell is considered the fundamental unit of life. Nothing smaller than the cell has all the properties of life. We are going to spend most of this lesson discussing macromolecules -- carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and nucleic acids. These are the molecules that make up all living organisms. To understand how they are made and how their structure relates to their function, we first have to understand some basic concepts of chemistry. Since some of you may not have taken any chemistry classes, our discussion of the topic will be fairly simple. For those who have taken some chemistry, consider this a good review.

Readings & Assignments

For this lesson, you will need to:

• Read textbook Chapter 3, and Chapter 15 sections 15.1-15.2
• Review the on-line material for Lesson 2
• Submit questions and offer answers to the Lesson Two discussion forum in the Lesson Discussion Forums folder
• Work on your Biology In Our Lives Essay #1 (Remember that topics need to be pre-approved by the instructor)
• Please make sure that you have or are working on Securing a Suitable Exam Proctor and filling out a Proctor Information Form for your final exam