biochem

adenine (A)

a purine base. One of four nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides composing the structure of RNA and DNA. Bonds with thymine.

ADP

(adenosine diphosphate) The compound that remains when a phosphate group is removed from ATP, releasing energy

amino acid

monomer of proteins

atom

Smallest unit of matter that still retains the properties of an element

ATP

(adenosine triphosphate) main energy source that cells use for most of their work

buffer

A solution that minimizes changes in pH when acids or bases are added to the solution.

carbohydrate

Class of nutrients that includes sugars and starches

cellulose

Carbohydrate component of plant cell walls.

condensation reaction

A chemical reaction in which two molecules covalently bond to each other with the removal of a water molecule.

cytosine (C)

a pyrimidine base. One of four nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides composing the structure of RNA and DNA. Bonds with guanine.

denaturation

A process in which a protein unravels, losing its specific structure and hence function; can be caused by changes in pH or salt concentration or by high temperature. Also refers to the separation of the two strands of the DNA double helix, caused by similar factors.

disaccharide

A double sugar molecule made of two monosaccharides bonded together through a condensation reaction.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid. A double-stranded, helical nucleic acid molecule capable of replicating and determining the inherited structure of a cell's proteins.

double helix

The form of native DNA, referring to its two adjacent polynucleotide strands wound into a spiral shape.

emulsification

physical process of breaking up large fat globules into smaller globules, thereby increasing the surface area that enzymes can use to digest the fat

enzyme

A type of protein that speeds up a chemical reaction in a living thing

fat

A large lipid molecule made from glycerol and three fatty acids; a triglyceride. Most function as energy-storage molecules.

fatty acid

Monomer of lipids, along with glycerol

functional group

the portion of a molecule that is active in a chemical reaction and that determines the properties of many organic compounds

glucose

C6H12O6

glycogen

An extensively branched glucose storage polysaccharide found in the liver and muscle of animals; the animal equivalent of starch.

guanine (G)

a purine base. One of four nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides composing the structure of RNA and DNA. Bonds with cytosine.

hexose

A six carbon sugar molecule

hydrogen bond

A type of weak chemical bond formed when the slightly positive region in one molecule is attracted to the slightly negative region in another molecule.

hydrolysis reaction

A chemical reaction that breaks apart a larger molecule by adding a molecule of water

hydrophilic

Water loving

hydrophobic

Water fearing

inorganic molecule

Molecules that do not contain the element carbon (in most cases)

ion

A particle that is electrically charged (positive or negative)

lipid

Energy-rich organic compounds, such as fats, oils, and waxes, that are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

molecule

A group of atoms held together by covalent bonds.

monomer

A simple compound whose molecules can join together to form polymers

monosaccharide

A single sugar molecule such as glucose or fructose, the simplest type of sugar.

nucleotide

A building block of DNA, consisting of a five-carbon sugar covalently bonded to a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group.

oil

Triglyceride, usually of plant origin that is liquid form

organic molecule

A molecule containing carbon that is a part of or produced by living systems.

pentose

A five carbon sugar molecule

peptide bond

The chemical bond that forms between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another amino acid

pH scale

measurement system used to indicate the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in solution; ranges from 0 to 14

phospholipid

A lipid made up of a glyerol joined to two fatty acids and a phosphate group; has two hydrophobic tails and a polar, hydrophilic head

polymer

A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.

polypeptide

A polymer (chain) of many amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.

polysaccharide

Carbohydrates that are made up of more than two monosaccharides

protein

A three dimensional polymer made of monomers of amino acids.

purine

a nitrogenous base that has a double-ring structure; such as adenine or guanine; when joined with sugar or phosphate, a component of nucleotides and nucleic acids

pyrimidine

a nitrogenous base that has a single-ring structure; one of the two general categories of nitrogenous bases found in DNA and RNA; thymine, cytosine, or uracil

RNA

Ribonucleic acid.

A type of nucleic acid consisting of nucleotide monomers with a ribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and uracil (U); usually single-stranded; functions in protein synthesis and as the genome of some viruses.

saturated fatty acid

A fatty acid in which all carbons in the hydrocarbon tail are connected by single bonds, thus maximizing the number of hydrogen atoms that can attach to the carbon skeleton.

solute

A substance that is dissolved in a solution.

solvent

A liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances

starch

A storage polysaccharide in plants consisting entirely of glucose.

thymine (T)

a pyrimidine base. One of four nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides composing the structure of DNA. Bonds with adenine.

trigyceride

The form of fat storage in adipose cells; consists of a molecule of glycerol joined with three fatty acids.

unsaturated fatty acid

A fatty acid possessing one or more double bonds between the carbons in the hydrocarbon tail. Such bonding reduces the number of hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon skeleton.

uracil (U)

a pyrimidine base. One of four nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides composing the structure of RNA. Bonds with adenine.