Final answer:
In biology, a 'monomer' is a single molecule that can bind to others to form a polymer. Two monomers bond to form a 'dimer', and multiple monomers join to create 'polymers'. 'Oligomers' are short polymers usually composed of a few monomer units.
Step-by-step explanation:
Classes of Biological Macromolecules
The terminology for single, double, and polymer forms of sugars and proteins is based on the number of monomer units they contain. The monomer is a term used to describe a single, small molecule that can join with other similar molecules to form a polymer. For example, a monosaccharide like glucose is a single six-carbon sugar that can exist alone or as the monomer of a complex carbohydrate. When two monosaccharides bond, they form a disaccharide. Finally, as many monomers join together, they form polymers such as polysaccharides, which include important storage and structural compounds like starch and cellulose in plants and glycogen in animals. A polymer is a larger molecule made up of repeating monomer units.
Proteins are polymers as well, specifically of amino acids. As more amino acid monomers join through peptide bonds, they form a polymer known as a protein, which can fold into complex three-dimensional structures crucial for biological function.
An oligosaccharide is a type of polymer that contains a small number of monosaccharides, typically ranging from three to ten. Oligosaccharides often play roles in cell recognition and adhesion. A common example is the oligosaccharides on red blood cells that define blood type.
In summary, monomers are the building blocks, dimers consist of two monomers bonded together, and polymers are larger molecules made of many monomers, while oligomers are polymers with a few monomer units.