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A-Level Biology OCR A

Energy Water Functions Triglycerides Proteins Amount Lipids Plants

Triglycerides serve as a dense energy source for respiration, an efficient means of energy storage (less mass per energy), provide buoyancy, insulation, and reduce water loss due to their hydrophobic nature.

Los triglicéridos son una fuente densa de energía para la respiración, un medio eficiente de almacenamiento de energía (menor masa por energía), proporcionan flotabilidad, aislamiento térmico y reducen la pérdida de agua debido a su naturaleza hidrofóbica.

Front List the functions of triglycerides & relate them to their properties.
Back Functions of triglycerides
  • Source of energy - in respiration provide twice as much energy per gram than carbs or proteins
  • Energy storage - for the equivalent amount of energy, lipids have half the mass of carbohydrates and proteins (facilitates movement in animals and seed dispersal in plants bc same amount of energy stored in less mass) & they dont affect water potential of cell - large amounts can be stored
  • Buoyancy - lipids are less dense than water (aquatic mammals can 'float')
  • Insulation - bad conduction of heat (aquatic mammals insulat themselves)
  • Reducing water loss - bc hydrophobic they are insoluble (waxy cuticle on plants and insects)
  • (Protection - vital organs have fat padding)

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