AP Biology / Unit 1: Chemistry of Life
1.2 Elements of Life
Notes
Living things are mostly C, H, O, N, P, S.
- Carbon: backbone of all macromolecules.
- Nitrogen: proteins and nucleic acids.
- Phosphorus: nucleic acids and phospholipids (ATP too).
- Sulfur: some amino acids (cysteine, methionine).
Practice
Which element is found in nucleic acids but not in typical carbohydrates?
Phosphate groups.
A scientist tracks radioactive sulfur. It will mostly appear in:
Sulfur is in some amino acids.
Plants get nitrogen to build:
Amino groups and nitrogenous bases.
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