Which term describes a large molecule formed from smaller subunits?

Which term describes a large molecule formed from smaller subunits?

• A. Monomer
• B. Oligomer
• C. Macromolecule
• D. Polymer

Answer: (C)

A macromolecule describes a very large molecule built from many smaller subunits. In biology, this includes things like proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides, which are formed by linking amino acids, nucleotides, or sugars into one large molecule. A monomer is just a single subunit, so it isn’t the large molecule described. An oligomer is a short chain of a few subunits, not typically thought of as very large. A polymer is indeed a large molecule made of repeating subunits, but macromolecule is the broader term that communicates the idea of a large, complex molecule formed from smaller parts.

A macromolecule describes a very large molecule built from many smaller subunits. In biology, this includes things like proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides, which are formed by linking amino acids, nucleotides, or sugars into one large molecule. A monomer is just a single subunit, so it isn’t the large molecule described. An oligomer is a short chain of a few subunits, not typically thought of as very large. A polymer is indeed a large molecule made of repeating subunits, but macromolecule is the broader term that communicates the idea of a large, complex molecule formed from smaller parts.