Unit 1: Sickle Cell Disease and Molecular Interactions

Vocabulary flashcards covering cellular properties, sickle cell disease, essential chemical elements, chemical bonds, and molecular interactions from Unit 1.

Erythrocytes (RBCs)

Cells that carry oxygen throughout the body and carry $CO_2$ to be removed; they are small, flexible, disc-shaped, lack a nucleus, and are packed with hemoglobin.

Average Cell Diameter in Human Bodies

Ranges from $10\text{-}100\text{um}$, with typical red blood cell diameters being smaller than this range to fit through capillaries.

Average Cell Lifespan in Human Bodies

Ranges from $7\text{-}10\text{ years}$, though typical red blood cells have a shorter lifespan than this.

Gene Pathway

The functional flow $\text{DNA} \rightarrow \text{RNA} \rightarrow \text{proteins}$, where proteins perform most cellular tasks.

Sickle Cell Disease

A condition where red blood cells become firm, rigid, stick together, and take on a curved crescent moon shape due to hemoglobin polymerization.

Most Common Elements in Organisms

The six most abundant elements in living organisms: H, C, N, O, P, and S.

Less Abundant Important Elements

Elements present in lower abundance but vital for living organisms: Na, Mg, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn.

Valence Electrons

Electrons in the outermost shell of an atom that determine its chemical activity.

Covalent Bond

A strong molecular interaction characterized by the sharing of a pair of electrons between atoms.

Electronegativity

The ability of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond.

Nonpolar Covalent Bond

A bond in which atoms share electrons approximately equally, such as all carbon-hydrogen ($C\text{-}H$) bonds.

Polar Covalent Bond

A bond in which atoms do not share electrons equally, resulting in partial positive and partial negative charges.

Noncovalent Bond

A weak molecular interaction where electrons are not shared between atoms.

Ionic Bond

A noncovalent interaction between positively charged cations and negatively charged anions involving electrostatic attraction.

Van der Waals Interactions / Hydrophobic Interactions

Weak noncovalent interactions caused by temporary dipoles as constantly shifting electrons create temporarily electron-poor (slightly positive) and slightly negative regions.

Hydrogen Bond

A special type of noncovalent bond common in molecules containing $N\text{-}H$, $O\text{-}H$, or $F\text{-}H$ covalent bonds.

Hydrophilic Molecules

Polar molecules and fully charged ions that interact well with water.

Hydrophobic Molecules

Molecules filled with C and H that share electrons evenly, do not form partial charge interactions, and are forced away from water to condense together inside cells.

Functional Groups

Pieces at the end of molecules (where $R$ represents any attached molecule) that dictate how they interact with other substances inside cells.