Macromolecules

Organic Molecule

Complex molecules containing carbon-hydrogen bonds, made by living things.

Inorganic Molecule

Simple molecules that do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds (e.g., water, carbon dioxide).

Monomer

A single, small molecular subunit used as a building block.

Polymer

A large molecule made by chaining many monomers together.

Proteins

Polymers made of amino acids that perform structural, enzymatic, and transport jobs.

Amino Acids

The 20 molecular building blocks (monomers) of proteins.

Carbohydrates

Organic molecules used for quick energy and structure (sugars and starches).

Sugar

Simple carbohydrates (like glucose) used as direct cellular fuel.

Lipids

Hydrophobic molecules used for long-term energy storage, insulation, and membranes (fats/oils).

Fatty Acids

Hydrocarbon chains that serve as the building blocks of most lipids.

Nucleic Acid

Polymers (like DNA and RNA) that store and transmit genetic information.

DNA

Double-stranded nucleic acid that stores the long-term genetic blueprint of an organism.

RNA

Single-stranded nucleic acid that acts as a temporary copy of DNA instructions to make proteins.

Nucleotide

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

Nitrogenous Base

The variable part of a nucleotide that spells out genetic code (A, T, C, G, or U).

Deoxyribose Sugar

The 5-carbon sugar found specifically in DNA nucleotides.

Ribose Sugar

The 5-carbon sugar found specifically in RNA nucleotides.

Complimentary Base Pairing

Structural rule where bases only bond with specific partners: A with T (or U), and C with G.