Biological materials

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/biological-materials

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the molecular basis?Primarily composed of carbon-based macromolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
2. What is the hierarchical organization?Properties emerge from molecular assembly to supramolecular structures and macroscopic forms
3. How do plants use cellulose and lignin to stay upright?Cellulose fibers give strength, and lignin adds extra rigidity so plant walls can hold up the tree.
4. What is collagen and why is it important in animals?Collagen is a protein that forms a triple helix, giving strong but flexible support to tendons, skin, and bones.

Macromolecules: Large molecules, such as polymers, essential for life's structure and function.
Biotechnology: The use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products.
Self-Assembly: The spontaneous organization of molecules into ordered structures without external guidance.