In response to your peers, discuss whether the fourth type of macromolecules (nucleic acids) is essential to our diet. Explain why. Review the list of elements indicated in a food label of your choice. Are nucleic acids indicated? Should they be?

Classmate # 1 Krystle

70% of the human body is comprised of water, so water is critical for human life, and life as we know it in general. It helps cells retain their shape. Macromolecules make up the majority of a cell’s dry mass. Carbs are essential parts of our diets (in the right quantities), lipids are fats that store energy, proteins have a range of functions such as aiding in digestion, and nucleic acids carry the genetic blueprints.

I think the “x” I would add would be sunlight. Not only do we get vitamin D from the sun’s rays, but those who live in areas with very few sunny days tend to experience seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, due to a lack of sunlight.

Classmate # 2 Brendan

Macromolecules are essential for life at a cellular level for multiple reasons. One of the essential types of macromolecules are carbohydrates, and all living things need carbohydrates in order to survive. Carbohydrates provide the energy for the cells in which living things feed off of (like plants and humans for example). While another essential type of macromolecules are proteins (amino acid polymers), which are responsible for sustaining and building tissue and muscle in all living animals. Proteins are also responsible for the transfer of different things in and out of cells, which is also a reason why proteins are essential when the body is trying to fight a certain illness/disease. Also, another type of protein called hemoglobin is essential because they carry oxygen to each cell throughout the body! And while lipids are important (fat, etc…), the most important macromolecule are nucleic acids because these macromolecules are responsible for the production of RNA and DNA (basically the code of life), which are mandatory in order for life to even exist. These are just a few of the many reasons why macromolecules are essential for life. Water on the other hand is extremely important as well, especially considering the human body for instance is made up of about 65-70% water. Water helps to break down waste and nutrients inside the cells throughout the body, and without this our cells wouldn’t even have the chance to function properly and accordingly.

Food + Water + Oxygen = Life.

Oxygen is crucial for life to exsist, maybe even more essential then both food and water in a sense. Because without the respriation (of oxygen) process, there would be no way for us to generate any kind of energy through our food sources. It also helps the body destroy unnecessary bacteria and it counter-balances harmful substances and gases like carbon monoxide. I am very interested to see what you guys will input for X in this discussion.

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