Build Macromolecules-

Efficiency in Biological Processes

Determined by how quickly and cheaply a biological process can be executed.

Inorganic Precursors

Substances in soil that enable plants to synthesize meaningful nitrogen.

Monomers

Individual units that link to form larger structures.

Polymers

Long chains of monomers linked together.

Proteins

Biological polymers made of linked amino acids connected by peptide bonds.

Nucleotides

The monomers of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, phosphate, and a base.

DNA Structure

Includes a sugar-phosphate backbone and complementary base pairing, stabilized by hydrogen bonds.

RNA

Acts as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA to ribosomes for protein synthesis.

Mutation

A permanent change in the DNA sequence that can lead to genetic variation.

Ionic Bonds

Chemical bonds formed between atoms with opposite charges.

Peptide Bonds

Covalent bonds formed between amino acids during protein synthesis.

Alpha Helix

A common secondary structure in proteins stabilized by hydrogen bonds.

Beta Sheet

A secondary protein structure formed by hydrogen bonds between adjacent peptide strands.

Tertiary Structure

The overall 3D shape of a polypeptide, critical for its function.

Quaternary Structure

The association of multiple polypeptide chains in a protein.

Hemoglobin

A tetrameric protein that transports oxygen in the blood.

Entropy

A measure of disorder in a system, which tends to increase in closed systems.

Exergonic Reactions

Reactions that release energy and can drive non-spontaneous processes.

ATP

The primary energy currency of the cell used for energy transfer.

Competitive Inhibition

A form of enzyme inhibition where the inhibitor competes with the substrate for the active site.

Non-Competitive Inhibition

Inhibition where the inhibitor binds at a site other than the active site, altering enzyme activity.

Phosphorylation

The addition of a phosphate group to a protein, modifying its activity.

Fluid Mosaic Model

A model describing the membrane as a dynamic structure with proteins and lipids moving freely.

Active Transport

The movement of molecules against their concentration gradient, often requiring energy.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a stable internal environment in organisms.

Hydrophobic Interactions

Forces that drive nonpolar side chains towards the interior of proteins in an aqueous environment.