Chapter 3 Biological Macromolecules

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on biological macromolecules, focusing on definitions, structures, processes, and functions.

What are the four classes of biological macromolecules?

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

What process links monomers together to form polymers?

Dehydration reactions.

What is the chemical formula for methane?

CH4.

Which group of biological macromolecules is used by plants for energy storage?

Starch.

What are the functional groups?

Hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amino, and phosphate groups.

What is the main characteristic of lipids?

They are hydrophobic (water-fearing) and are used for long-term energy storage.

What is a disaccharide?

A carbohydrate made of two monosaccharides linked together.

What is the structure of DNA?

DNA is a double helix consisting of two polynucleotide strands.

What type of bond is formed between amino acids?

Peptide bonds.

What is chitin?

A polysaccharide used by insects and crustaceans to build an exoskeleton.

What are anabolic steroids?

Synthetic variants of the male hormone testosterone that can pose health risks.

What are amino acids?

The monomers that make up proteins, consisting of an amino group, carboxyl group, and R group.

What distinguishes saturated fatty acids from unsaturated ones?

Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds and contain the maximum number of hydrogen atoms.

What are the nitrogenous bases of DNA?

Adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).

What is hydrolysis?

The process of breaking down polymers into monomers by the addition of water.