The Molecules and Macromolecules of the Cell.

... Zoë McKellar 03/1173/PAF "The Molecules and Macromolecules of the Cell" Due 17th November 2003 The Molecules and Macromolecules of the Cell There are huge numbers of macromolecules and molecules found in a cell, but they mainly have one thing in common: Carbon. Carbon is the most prevalent element in all organic life. It has a valency of 4, which makes it particularly effective in forming covalent bonds with other elements to form molecules. While a number of other elements are used in a cell, Carbon is used in abundance. Amino acids are organic molecules which are the monomers of proteins and are made up of at least one amino group and at least one carboxyl group. It is quite probable that huge numbers of amino acids actually exist, only about twenty of these are used in building proteins. These amino acids are commonly called ?-amino acids. These amino acids have both an amino group and carboxyl

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