Polymers

Summary

In this educational podcast, Mr. Andersen explores polymers, large molecules composed of smaller monomers. He uses the word 'polymers' itself as an example, showing how its letters can be rearranged to form different words, just as monomers can be arranged to create various polymers. He discusses biological examples like cellulose, proteins, and DNA, highlighting their monomer composition. The podcast explains how polymers are synthesized through condensation or dehydration reactions and broken down via hydrolysis. Mr. Andersen challenges listeners with a question about the TRP Cage protein and concludes with the importance of polymers in digestion and the body's composition, emphasizing 'you are what you eat.'

Takeaways

• 🔬 Polymers are large molecules composed of smaller units called monomers.
• 🌐 The word 'polymers' itself can be rearranged to form different words, illustrating the concept of monomers forming different polymers.
• 🌿 Examples of polymers in biology include cellulose (a polysaccharide), proteins (made of amino acids), and DNA (made of nucleotides).
• 🤔 Polymers can be created through condensation or dehydration reactions where water is removed, linking monomers together.
• 💧 The opposite process of polymer formation is hydrolysis, where water is added to break down polymers into monomers.
• 🍔 Everyday foods like a Filet O Fish sandwich from McDonald's contain various polymers that are broken down during digestion.
• 🧬 TRP Cage, found in the saliva of a Gila monster, is one of the smallest proteins and is composed of 20 amino acids.
• 🧐 Hydrolysis of proteins like TRP Cage requires a specific number of water molecules, which is a topic for further exploration.
• 🍕 The process of digestion involves breaking down complex polymers in food into their monomer components.
• 🌱 The monomers absorbed from digested food are then used in the body to form new polymers essential for growth and repair.

Q & A

What are polymers?

Polymers are large molecules composed of smaller molecules called monomers, which can be arranged in different ways to create different polymers.

How is the word 'polymers' itself an example of a polymer?

The word 'polymers' is an example of a polymer because its letters can be rearranged to form different words, such as 'Mrs. Poley' or 'spying mushroom', just as monomers can be arranged to form different polymers.

Can you provide an example of a polymer found in biology?

An example of a polymer found in biology is cellulose, which is a polysaccharide made up of sugar molecules repeated in a chain.

What is the role of amino acids in forming polymers?

Amino acids are the monomers that link together to form proteins, which are essential polymers in biological systems.

How are DNA and polymers related?

DNA is a polymer made up of monomers called nucleotides, each consisting of a phosphate, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

What is a dehydration reaction in the context of polymer formation?

A dehydration reaction is a process used to build polymers where water is removed as monomers are joined together, forming a bond and creating a polymer chain.

How does hydrolysis relate to polymers?

Hydrolysis is the process of breaking down polymers by adding water, which is the opposite of a dehydration reaction and is used to break the bonds between monomers.

What is the TRP Cage and why is it significant in the context of this podcast?

The TRP Cage is one of the smallest proteins found in nature, present in the saliva of a Gila monster, and is significant because it illustrates the concept of hydrolysis requiring water molecules to break down proteins into amino acids.

How many water molecules would be needed to hydrolyze the TRP Cage protein?

To hydrolyze the TRP Cage protein, which contains 20 amino acids, 19 water molecules would be required, as each peptide bond between amino acids needs one water molecule for hydrolysis.

How does the process of digestion relate to polymers and monomers?

During digestion, the body breaks down polymers like proteins, carbohydrates, and fats into their monomer units, which can then be absorbed and used to build new polymers necessary for the body's functions.

What is the significance of the statement 'you are what you eat' in relation to polymers?

The statement 'you are what you eat' is significant because it emphasizes that the polymers we consume are broken down into monomers, which are then used to build the polymers that make up our bodies, such as proteins in hair, skin, and cells.