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Identify the three most common elements found in all four classes of biological macromolecules.
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Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are the three most prevalent elements used to build carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.
Predict the effect on macromolecule synthesis if a plant is grown in soil lacking phosphorus? Justify your prediction.
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The plant would be unable to synthesize adequate phospholipids and nucleic acids because both require phosphorus — phospholipids need phosphate in their head group, and nucleic acids need phosphate in their sugar-phosphate backbone. Carbohydrate and most other lipid synthesis would remain unaffected because those molecules do not contain phosphorus.
Explain why sulfur deficiency would impair protein function but not carbohydrate function?
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Sulfur is incorporated into certain amino acids that form proteins, so a lack of sulfur would prevent proper protein assembly. Carbohydrates are composed only of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, so their synthesis does not depend on sulfur availability.