Question

How many daltons is the average size of a biological molecule?

Answer 1

The average size of a biological molecule can vary widely depending on the specific molecule, with molecular weights ranging from 5000 Da to 10^9 Da. The size of a molecule does not necessarily determine its function.

Step-by-step explanation:

The average size of a biological molecule can vary widely depending on the specific molecule. However, one common way to measure the size of molecules is by their molecular weight, which is measured in daltons (Da). The average molecular weight of a biological molecule can range from 5000 Da to 10^9 Da. This includes a wide range of molecules such as proteins, DNA, RNA, carbohydrates, and lipids.

For example, the molecular weight of a protein can be calculated by multiplying the number of amino acids in the protein by the average molecular weight of an amino acid (which is approximately 110 Da). Different proteins have different amino acid compositions and therefore, different molecular weights.

It's important to note that the size of a biological molecule does not necessarily determine its function. Even relatively small molecules can have important roles in cellular processes, while larger molecules can have multiple functions within a single structure.

Answer 2

The average size of a biological molecule varies widely, but a medium-sized protein is about 53 kDa, indicating that biological molecules are typically in the tens of thousands of Daltons. This broad range is dependent on the type and complexity of the molecule.

Step-by-step explanation:

The average size of a biological molecule can be quite variable as biological molecules come in a range of sizes from small molecules like water to large macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Given that the molecular weight of a protein can be estimated by multiplying the number of amino acids it contains by an average value of 110 Daltons, and considering proteins can range anywhere from a few amino acids in length to many thousands, the average molecular weight of proteins can span from about 5000 to several million Daltons.

However when we talk about the size of an average protein, we could consider a medium-sized protein, such as one involved in cellular signaling with a mass of approximately 53 kDa (kilodaltons) which is not particularly large compared to other proteins such as ATP synthase with a mass of approximately 550 kDa. Therefore if asked 'How many daltons is the average size of a biological molecule?', we could reasonably state that the average size might be in the tens of thousands of Daltons with a broad range depending on the specific type of molecule.